Bhubaneswar: While Odisha is likely to witness a gradual rise in the minimum temperature from Saturday, G Udayagiri in Kandhamal district continued to shiver at 5.5°C last night.
According to India Meteorological Department (IMD), the mercury plummeted below 10°C at eight places in the state during the last 24 hours.
Besides G Udayagiri, the other seven places are Similiguda (Koraput) at 6.1°C, Phulbani (Kandhamal) at 7.5°C, Kirei (Sundargarh) at 7.8°C, Koraput at 8.5°C, Dhenkanal at 9.4°C and Bhawanipatna as well as Daringbadi at 9.5°C.
The twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack recorded 12.4°C and 13.4°C respectively.
Many places in the state are likely to witness a gradual rise in night temperature by 2°C to 3°C during the next couple of days. Shallow to moderate fog will occur at isolated places in a few districts during this period, the IMD said.
IMD-Bhubaneswar regional head H R Biswas attributed the likely rise in temperature to moisture inflow and reduction in the impact of northerly and north-westerly dry and cold winds.
According to Centre for Environment and Climate (CEC) director Sarat Chandra Sahu, the night temperature may rise from Saturday due to the flow of moisture from sea to land. This will be with the formation of an anti-cyclonic circulation along the Odisha coast.
“Light to moderate rain or thundershowers is likely over north Odisha districts from December 24 to 26 under the influence of a combination of the anti-cyclonic circulation and western disturbance from northern India. There is also a possibility of thunderstorms on December 26 over Khurda district,” he told TOI.
