Bhubaneswar: With Diwali over, several places in Odisha registered drop in mercury with Koraput recording the lowest temperature.
According to regional centre of India Meteorological Department in Bhubaneswar, 15 places in the state reported night temperature of below 20 degree Celsius in the last 24 hours.
While Koraput district felt the chill of initial winter with the minimum temperature of 14.2 degree Celsius while Semiliguda in the district recording the lowest temperature of 13.2 degree.
Similarly, Kandhamal reported 17 degree and G Udaygiri in district recorded 14.6 degree. Daringbadi registered the night temperature of 16 degree while Boudh, Sonepur and Phulbani recorded 17 degree Celsius.
The twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack recorded minimum temperature of 21.1 and 20.6 degree Celsius respectively.
The IMD forecast that dry weather will prevail in the state in next 3 to 4 days. There will be no significant change in the day and night temperature, it added.
Earlier, the national weather forecaster had said Odisha will experience a warmer winter till December-end this year due to overcast sky and likely rain during the period.
It stated that Lalina system over Pacific Ocean and negative IOD over Indian Ocean will continue till December-end. These systems have been continuing for the last 3 years. Since there are no changes in the system this year also, surface temperature on land mass is likely to remain high, it added.
However, the IMD said winter chill would be experienced in Odisha in 3-4 phases between December and January like previous years. The mercury may come down from first week of January, it added.