Bhubaneswar: The mercury plummeted to 4.6°C in Rourkela on Friday as Odisha continued to reel under cold wave conditions.
The minimum temperature dropped by 2°C in the Steel City in the last 24 hours. Similarly, Jharsuguda shivered at 5°C, a drop of 2.8°C since the previous day, while the mercury level stood at 10.5°C in Bhubaneswar. The state capital had recorded 11.8°C the previous day.
The other places, which recorded temperature at or below 10°C include Phulbani in Kandhamal 6.1°C, Keonjhar and Sundargarh at 7.6°C each, Angul at 8.4°C, Baripada at 8.6°C, Dhenkanal at 8.7°C, Daringbadi, a hill station in Kandhanal, at 9°C, Koraput at 9.5°C, Bhawanipatna at 9.8°C and Cuttack, Nabarangour and Sambalpur at 10°C each, according to senior meteorologist Umasankar Das.
Jharsuguda has recorded unprecedented low temperatures this season, breaking multiple historical records and dominating the list of the coldest readings in its documented history. The industrial town in western Odisha has shattered its previous all-time low of 5.6°C set on January 7, 2023. This winter, the minimum temperature has dipped below that mark on five separate occasions – a bone-chilling 4.5°C on January 10, 4.6°C on January 9, 5°C on January 16, 5.1°C on January 6 and 5.4°C on January 7.
These figures reflect a severe cold wave gripping Odisha, driven by cold north-westerly winds and clear skies, leading to sharp drops in night temperatures across the state.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has noted severe cold wave conditions in districts like Jharsuguda and Angul, with minimum temperatures frequently 6–8°C below normal in interior areas. The prolonged chill has disrupted daily life, with residents relying on extra layers, fires for warmth, and delayed routines amid dense morning fog.
This intense spell aligns with broader cold wave impacts in Odisha, where several locations—including nearby Rourkela (hitting 3.6°C, an all-time low)—have seen historic lows, making western Odisha one of the coldest regions in the plains.
As the cold wave persists with warnings for continued below-normal temperatures in isolated pockets, authorities advise precautions against the biting cold, particularly for vulnerable groups. Relief may come gradually with the IMD predicting a rise in the minimum temperature by 2.4°C after Friday.
Cold wave warning persists for the districts of Angul, Jharsuguda, Dhenkanal, Sundargarh, Khurda, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapada till January 17 morning.
