Bhubaneswar: Night temperatures dropped significantly across the state on Friday, with G Udayagiri, a hill station in Kandhamal district, recording the day’s lowest minimum temperature at 12°C.
Rourkela experienced the second-lowest minimum temperature at 13.9°C, accompanied by dense fog that reduced visibility to 50m, causing traffic disruptions in the morning.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), at least 12 towns recorded minimum temperatures hovering around 15°C. The city witnessed a temperature of 20°C, marking a two-degree drop from the previous day.
“The prevailing wind pattern is expected to shift to northerly and north-westerly directions, leading to a further drop in minimum temperatures from Friday,” Sanjeev Dwivedi, a scientist at the regional IMD centre, said. He added that clear skies would contribute to the falling mercury levels.
The IMD forecasts a further decline in night temperatures by two to four degrees Celsius over the next four to five days across many parts of the state, bringing winter chill.
Former IMD regional centre director Sarat Chandra Sahu predicts a continuous minor drop in night temperatures due to favourable wind conditions, with a sharp fall expected around November 21.