CUTTACK: Winter chill is set to intensify across Odisha, with the state bracing for a further dip in temperatures and widespread fog over the coming days.
According to the IMD forecast, night temperatures will fall by around 1 to 1.5 degrees Celsius over the next four days, beginning Tuesday. Severe cold conditions continued to prevail in both hilly and plain regions of Kandhamal and Koraput districts. The chill is likely to persist across the interior and the southern parts of the state.
Fifteen places in Odisha recorded minimum temperatures of 10 degrees Celsius or below in the last 24 hours. Jharsuguda emerged as the coldest location in plain locations, registering a minimum temperature of 5.1 degrees Celsius, while hill station G Udayagiri recorded the lowest temperature at 6.8 degrees Celsius among elevated areas.
Alongside falling temperatures, dense fog has emerged as another major concern. Boudh district witnessed extremely dense fog with visibility plunging to as low as 20 metres. Similar foggy conditions were reported from Balangir, Koraput and Kandhamal districts, disrupting early morning movement.
“Foggy conditions are likely to prevail in coastal areas as well as in Boudh, Koraput, Nayagarh, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Deogarh, Sambalpur, Kandhamal and Kalahandi districts,” said IMD’s regional centre director Manorama Mohanty.