[Bhubaneswar, 12/1 : ] Residents across the interior and western belts of Odisha woke up to a bone-chilling morning today as the mercury took a sharp nose-dive, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue a severe cold wave warning for eight districts. The Regional Meteorological Centre in Bhubaneswar has sounded a ‘Yellow Alert,’ cautioning that night temperatures are likely to remain significantly below normal for the next two to three days.
According to the latest bulletin from the IMD, the cold wave conditions are expected to prevail over Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Keonjhar, Angul, Dhenkanal, Deogarh, Sambalpur, and Mayurbhanj. The sudden drop in temperature is attributed to the dry and cold north-westerly winds penetrating the state from the Himalayan region, which has intensified the chill factor across the eastern coast.
Temperatures Nosedive Below 10°C
The grip of winter has tightened considerably, with at least 13 locations across the state recording minimum temperatures below the 10°C mark. G. Udayagiri in Kandhamal district emerged as the coldest spot in the state, shivering at a freezing 4.8°C. It was closely followed by Rourkela, which recorded a historic low of 3.6°C, making it one of the coldest nights the steel city has witnessed in decades.
Other major towns were not spared. Jharsuguda recorded a minimum of 4.6°C, a departure of nearly 7 degrees from the normal, while Phulbani and Daringbadi—often dubbed the ‘Kashmir of Odisha’—recorded 6.8°C and 7.0°C respectively. Even the capital city, Bhubaneswar, saw the mercury dip to 9.2°C, marking its coldest January morning in over 23 years.
Public Advisory and Impact
Manorama Mohanty, Director of the Regional Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar, stated, “We do not expect a significant change in the weather pattern for the next 48 hours. The cold wave is likely to intensify in isolated pockets of the warned districts. We advise people, especially the elderly and infants, to avoid prolonged exposure to the cold during early morning and late night hours.”
The severe chill has already begun to impact daily life. Morning traffic in several districts was sluggish due to a combination of biting cold and shallow fog. In Angul and Dhenkanal, residents were seen huddled around bonfires at street corners, while tea stalls witnessed heavy footfall. The state government has directed district collectors to ensure that night shelters are operational and to take necessary measures to protect the homeless from the harsh weather.
Farmers have also been alerted to take precautions for their rabi crops, as ground frost conditions could occur in high-altitude pockets of the interior districts. The weather department predicts a gradual rise in temperature only after January 15, as the wind patterns are expected to shift.
#OdishaWeather #ColdWave #WinterChill #IMD #BhalaKatha #WeatherUpdate #StaySafe #Bhalakatha
