A severe cold wave tightened its grip over Odisha during the Saturday-Sunday intervening night, plunging temperatures across the state and leaving residents grappling with intense winter conditions.
Hill Station Records Season's Lowest Temperature
The hill town of G Udayagiri in Kandhamal district emerged as the coldest spot in Odisha, registering a chilling 4.4 degrees Celsius. This marked the season's lowest temperature so far. The town had recorded a slightly higher 5.6°C the previous day, indicating a sharp overnight dip.
Other interior areas also experienced severe cold. Daringbadi and Phulbani recorded minimum temperatures of 7.5°C and 8°C respectively on Sunday. Several tribal-dominated pockets like Bramhanigaon, Kotagarh, Belaghara, Raikia, and Phiringia were also reeling under the cold spell.
Plains and Towns Witness Significant Mercury Drop
The cold wave was not confined to the hills. In the plains, Rourkela recorded 7.2°C, the lowest for the region. Industrial towns like Angul and Jharsuguda saw temperatures plummet to 5.2°C and 7.6°C respectively. The IMD report highlighted that Jharsuguda's minimum temperature was a substantial 6 degrees Celsius below the normal for this time of year, despite a comfortable daytime maximum of 30.2°C.
Visibility issues compounded the discomfort in several regions. Dense fog enveloped Rourkela, Phulbani, and Koraput, while other places reported shallow to moderate fog, disrupting early morning routines.
IMD Forecast and Official Warning
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast no significant change in the dropping night temperature trend for the next four to five days. A formal cold-wave warning has been issued for four districts over the next two days.
Explaining the meteorological cause, IMD scientist Sanjeev Dwivedi attributed the plunge to a change in wind flow patterns amid dry weather conditions. He indicated that while minor fluctuations of 1-2 degrees Celsius are expected this week, the overall cold conditions will persist.
An IMD bulletin provided a detailed breakdown, stating night temperatures were markedly below normal by about 5-6°C in north interior Odisha and appreciably below normal by about 4°C in parts of coastal Odisha.
The sharp fall has significantly impacted daily life, especially in rural interior pockets, forcing people to remain indoors until late morning hours. With the IMD predicting continued cold conditions, residents across the state are bracing for more chilly days ahead.
