Odisha is reeling under an intense cold wave as the New Year approaches, with dry northwesterly winds bringing relentless chill across the state.
The Regional Meteorological Centre in Bhubaneswar has forecast continued dry weather, falling night temperatures, and persistent dense fog at least until January 3, 2026.
In a remarkable development, Jharsuguda recorded a minimum temperature of **6.2°C** on Tuesday morning, breaking a 15-year record for the coldest December night in the district. This reading was 5.1°C below normal and marked the third-lowest December temperature ever in Jharsuguda. Even coastal areas felt the bite, with minimum temperatures dipping to between 11°C and 13°C in northern coastal districts.
Over the past 24 hours, 14 locations across Odisha recorded temperatures below 10°C:
– G. Udayagiri: 4.3°C (coldest in the state)
– Phulbani: 6°C
– Jharsuguda: 6.2°C
– Daringbadi and Semiliguda: 7°C
– Koraput: 7.1°C
– Kirei: 8.2°C
– Rourkela: 8.5°C
– Nabarangpur and Sundargarh: 8.8°C
– Bhawanipatna and Angul: 9°C
– Chiplima: 9.8°C
– Boudh: 10°C
Dense fog has added to the woes, with very thick fog reported in Nayagarh and moderate to dense fog in several other areas, impacting visibility and road traffic.
Director of the Regional Meteorological Centre, Manorama Mohanty, stated that dry weather will prevail throughout the week, allowing cold winds to intensify the chill. Yellow warnings for dense fog have been issued for multiple districts in the coming days, including up to 13 districts in the next 24 hours, 12 on New Year’s Day, and continuing into early January.
Residents are advised to take precautions against the cold, especially vulnerable groups, and exercise caution while driving due to reduced visibility from fog.
