Bhubaneswar: Intense cold wave continued to prevail in Odisha with the mercury slumping to below 10 degrees Celsius at 16 places on Monday.
According to the morning bulletin of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Sonepur remained the coldest place in the state for the third consecutive day at 5.4 degree Celsius while the night temperature remained below 10 degrees in Daringibadi in Kandhamal district (7), Titlagarh (6.5), Phulbani (6.3), Koraput (9.2), Balangir (8.5), Bhawanipatna (9), Talcher (9.4), Sundargarh (8.5), Sambalpur (8.7), Keonjhar (7.4), Jharsuguda (8.9), Baripada (9.4), Angul (5.6), Cuttack (9.5) and Balasore (8.5).
Besides, the temperature hovered at 12 degrees Celsius and below in Chandbali (11.1), Bhubaneswar (10.6) and Hirakud (10.6).
Meanwhile, snow flakes and frost were found in the interior areas like Bonai, Tensa, Koida in Sundargarh district, Laxmipur and Pottangi in Koraput district and Darigbadi in Kandhamal district.
Talking to the media here, duty officer of the Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar, Sarat Chandra Gadatia said that the IMD has issued cold wave warning for Sundargarh, Deogarh, Keonjhar, Balasore, Angul, Dhenkanal, Sonepur, Boudh, Cuttack, Puri, Khurda, Kalahandi and Balangir for Monday.
He said that the cold wave condition will persist till January 1 while there will be light to moderate rainfall and thundershower in Bargarh, Nuapada, Jharsuguda, Sundargarh, Sambalpur, Keonjhar and Deogarh districts on January 1 and Sundargarh, Deogarh, Angul, Khurda, Sonepur and Boudh districts on January 2 due to western disturbances.
“Under the influence of the western disturbances, the wind is blowing from the north-east direction. However, the wind direction will change after January 2 with the blowing of the cold wind from the Sub-Himalayan range resulting in the sharp fall in the night temperature in Odisha from January 3. The cold wave condition is expected to continue till the second week of January,” he added.
