Winter has officially started tightening its grip across Odisha, with minimum temperatures plummeting across several interior, southern, and western districts.
According to recent meteorological observations, the mercury has dropped below the 15-degree Celsius mark in two locations, signalling the onset of crisp, chilly nights across the state.
Nabarangpur emerged as the coldest place in Odisha, recording a season-low minimum temperature of 14.2°C (with adjoining pockets hovering at 14.6°C). Close behind were the scenic hill station of Daringbadi in Kandhamal and Koraput, both registering a chilly 15°C.
The downward trend in night temperatures was also felt across western and southern Odisha. Bhawanipatna recorded 15.5°C, followed closely by the steel city of Raurkela at 15.7°C. Meanwhile, Balangir and Sonepur shivered at 16°C and 16.2°C, respectively, prompting residents to pull out their woollens early in the morning and late at night.
In stark contrast to the biting cold in the interior belts, coastal Odisha experienced a noticeable reduction in the winter chill. Minimum temperatures across the coastal districts remained relatively warm, staying comfortably above the 20°C mark.
Weather analysts attribute the drop in interior temperatures to the unhindered flow of dry, cold north-westerly winds entering the state. Residents in the interior pockets are expected to experience pleasant, sunny days accompanied by chilly nights and light morning fog over the coming days.
