Bhubaneswar: The mercury plummeted to 0°C in Similipal National Park in Mayurbhanj district as cold wave conditions gripped several districts of Odisha on Thursday.
This is the lowest temperature recorded in the state this season.
According to Similipal National Park authorities, Upper Baraha Kamuda, which lies in the core zone of the Similipal Tiger Reserve, recorded a minimum temperature of minus 1 degree Celsius. Tourists are prohibited from entering the area, which is patrolled by only authorised personnel.
Meanwhile, Rourkela recorded its all-time lowest minimum temperature of 3.6°C this morning. Jharsuguda also experienced its chilliest night in 72 years with mercury touching 4.6°C, coming just 48 hours after it had already shattered its all-time low record, senior IMD scientist US Das said in a post on X.
The minimum temperature in Bhubaneswar was recorded at 9.4°C for the second consecutive day. This winter chill has matched the nighttime low last seen on January 3, 1952, repeating a 74-year-old record and sending residents reaching for extra layers of warm clothing amid an ongoing cold wave gripping the state.
Bhubaneswar had recorded the coldest January night at 8.6°C on January 5, 1992, followed by 9°C on January 17, 2003, 9.3°C on January 15, 2012, and 9.4°C on January 3, 1952 and January 8, 2026.
IMD FOREAST
In its midday bulletin on Thursday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had warned of cold wave conditions at isolated pockets in districts of Jharsuguda, Sundargarh, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Khurda, Balasore, Angul, Dhenkanal, Kalahandi, Kandhamal and Nabarangpur till January 8 morning. Cold wave conditions may continue to prevail in Sundargarh, Jagatsinghpur, Khurda, Balasore, Angul, Kalahandi and Kandhamal during the subsequent 24 hours.
It had also forecast dense fog at isolated pockets in Sundargarh from January 12 evening till next morning. Similar foggy conditions may prevail in Sundargarh, Kendrapada and Jagatsinghpur during the subsequent two days.
The state is unlikely to experience any large change in the minimum temperature during the next 2 days. The mercury may rise by 2-3°C across the state during the subsequent 2 days with no large change thereafter, it added.
