Bhubaneswar, 8/1 : The Temple City woke up to a bone-chilling morning on Thursday as the mercury plummeted to a startling 9.4 degrees Celsius, marking one of the coldest January nights the capital has witnessed in decades. The sharp drop in temperature has sent shivers across the city, forcing residents to pull out heavy woolens usually reserved for trips to the hills.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) Bhubaneswar Centre, today’s minimum temperature of 9.4°C is a significant meteorological event. It equals the record set on January 3, 1952, effectively making this the joint-third coldest January night in the city’s recorded history since 1952. The all-time lowest January temperature remains 8.6°C, recorded on January 5, 1992, followed closely by 9.0°C on January 17, 2003. This is the first time since 2012 that the mercury has dipped this low in the capital, breaking the comfort of the usually mild coastal winter.
The descent into this deep freeze has been rapid and unforgiving. Just four days ago, on January 4, the minimum temperature stood at a comfortable 18.6°C. Since then, the city has witnessed a vertical drop of over 9 degrees, driven by dry, icy winds sweeping in from the north-northwest. “The sudden plunge is attributed to the advection of cold air from the Himalayan region, coupled with clear skies that allow rapid radiative cooling at night,” explained a senior scientist at the local Met Centre.
Life in Bhubaneswar has slowed noticeably under the grip of the cold wave. Morning walkers at Indira Gandhi Park and Forest Park were few and far between, arriving much later than usual and bundled in layers. The usually bustling tea stalls at Master Canteen and Jayadev Vihar saw a surge in customers seeking warmth from earthen cups of steaming tea. “I haven’t felt this kind of biting cold in Bhubaneswar in years. The wind makes it feel even colder than the thermometer says,” remarked a commuter waiting at a bus stop in Patia.
The cold wave is not limited to the capital. The entire state of Odisha is reeling under severe winter conditions. Similipal in Mayurbhanj district reported a freezing 0°C, while G. Udayagiri in Kandhamal shivered at 2.5°C. The IMD has issued a Yellow Warning for several districts, predicting that these cold wave conditions will persist for the next 72 hours before any respite is felt.
Authorities have advised residents, particularly the elderly and children, to limit early morning and late-night outdoor activities. With the forecast suggesting the chill will linger, Bhubaneswar is bracing for another freezing night, reminding its citizens of the historic winters of the past.
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