Bhubaneswar: As many as 8 places recorded below normal minimum temperature on Friday.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Angul recorded 13.8 degree Celsius against its normal minimum temperature of 19.6 on the day while Bhawanipatna had 15.5 degree compared to normal 18.6 and Puri reported 20.4 degree against 17.9 average.
Mercury dipped to 20.5 degree against average 22.3 at Gopalpur while it was 17.2 degree at Jharsuguda which is 1.8 degree below normal. Compared to average 20.8 degree, Cuttack reported 20 degree, Chandbali in Bhadrak and Sambalpur recorded 0.1 and 0.8 degree less than normal respectively.
Phulbani, Daringbadi, Koraput, Keonjhar, Talcher, Balangir, Boudh, Baripada, Hirakud and Bhubaneswar recorded less than 20 degree while Sonepur was the coldest at 12.8 degree Celsius.
The Met office attributed the dip in minimum temperature to the northerly and north-westerly wind blowing towards the state. The cold condition is expected to subside from November 1, it said.
Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre scientist Umasankar Das said minimum temperature is expected to rise under the influence of a low pressure area likely to form over east-central Bay of Bengal on Saturday. The temperature will drop again from November 5, he added.