Bhubaneswar, 8/1 : The Temple City woke up to a bone-chilling morning on Thursday as the mercury plummeted to a shivering 9.4 degrees Celsius, marking one of the coldest January nights in the capital’s recorded history. The sharp drop in temperature has equalled a 74-year-old meteorological record, matching the nighttime low last seen on January 3, 1952.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) Bhubaneswar, this is the fourth-lowest minimum temperature recorded in the city during the month of January since 1952. The all-time lowest January temperature for Bhubaneswar remains 8.6°C, recorded on January 5, 1992. Other significant lows include 9°C on January 17, 2003, and 9.3°C on January 15, 2012. The current reading of 9.4°C has officially made this the coldest night the city has witnessed in over a decade, specifically since 2013.
Senior Meteorologist Umasankar Das confirmed the data, noting that the sudden plunge is attributed to the dry and cold northwesterly winds sweeping across the state. “The capital witnessed a drop of nearly 9.2 degrees Celsius in just four days. On January 4, the minimum temperature was 18.6°C, which crashed to 10.2°C yesterday and settled at 9.4°C today,” Das stated.
The severe cold wave has thrown normal life out of gear. Early morning joggers were seen bundled in heavy woolens, while tea stalls across the city witnessed unusually large crowds seeking warmth. In several localities, residents and security guards were spotted huddled around bonfires to combat the biting chill. The Nandankanan Zoological Park authorities have also reportedly initiated special measures, including the installation of heaters and providing gunny bags, to protect the animals from the harsh weather.
The cold snap is not limited to the capital. The entire state of Odisha is currently in the grip of a severe cold wave. G. Udayagiri in the Kandhamal district emerged as the coldest place in the state, recording a freezing 2.5°C. It was followed closely by Semiliguda at 3.2°C and Phulbani at 5°C. Reports from the Similipal Tiger Reserve in Mayurbhanj indicate that temperatures in the core areas like Upar Bara Kamuda have touched the freezing point of 0°C, leading to frost formation on the ground.
The IMD has issued a Yellow Warning for cold wave conditions in several districts, including Khurda, Cuttack, Angul, and Jharsuguda, for the next 48 hours. Dense fog warnings have also been issued for coastal and interior districts, which may affect vehicular movement in the early hours. Residents have been advised to avoid prolonged exposure to the cold during the night and early morning.
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