Bhubaneswar: Dense fog is likely to blanket Odisha for another five day, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) informed on Monday.
The weather agency has issued a warning for isolated pockets of Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Keonjhar, Sambalpur and Sonepur districts during the early morning hours till December 27. It further stated that there will be no large change in the minimum temperature during the next seven days.
Shallow to moderate fog may also occur during early hours/morning hours at isolated pockets in the districts of Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Jagatsinghpur, Balangir, Koraput, Kendrapada and Sonepur.
There is also a possibility of a renewed spell of winter chill starting December 25, according to senior meteorologist Umasankar Das. He attributed it to the departure of a western disturbance, allowing dry and cold winds from the north-west to flow more freely into the region.
Fog Advisory To Prevent Road Mishaps
In view of the warning, the Commerce and Transport Department has released a comprehensive advisory t
o prevent road accidents, emphasising on cautious driving during low-visibility conditions. Key guidelines include driving at reduced speed based on visibility, using low-beam headlights and keeping the blinking parking and tail lights switched on. Drivers have also been advised to keep a greater distance from the vehicle ahead, proceed with heightened caution at road curves and slopes, and pull over to a secure spot if fog becomes too thick to navigate safely. “Motorists have been strictly advised not to use high beams, overtake in fog, apply sudden brakes, drive under the influence of alcohol or leave vehicles stranded in the middle of the road,” the advisory added.
Sharp Drop Of Temp From Normal In Koraput
In the last 24 hours, Koraput experienced a steep deviation, with its minimum temperature plummeting 7.2°C below normal to register a chilly 5.5°C. G Udayagiri, a hill station in Kandhamal was close second at 6.8°C. The other places which recorded temperature below 10°C include Daringbadi, also in Kandhamal, 7°C, Phulbani, the district headquarters of Kandhamal, and Semiliguda in Koraput at 8°C each, Nabarangpur (8.8°C), Boudh (9.2°C), Rourkela and Chiplima in Sambalpur at 9.9°C.
The twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack recorded 13.6°C and 12.4°C respectively, according to the India Meteorological Department.
Dense fog also engulfed Rourkela, Balangir, Sonepur, Jharsuguda and Phulbani this morning, while moderate fog occured in Bhawanipatna and Koraput.