Odisha continues to reel under an intense cold wave, with harsh winter conditions gripping large parts of the state. Similipal in Mayurbhanj district recorded a bone-chilling 0°C, while at least 23 towns reported minimum temperatures below 10°C, underlining the severity of the cold spell.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said that cold wave conditions are likely to persist for another three days. The sharp fall in temperatures has triggered winter extremes across the state, including frost formation in some areas and dense fog in several regions, disrupting daily life.
Mercury dips to 3°C in Kandhamal
G Udayagiri in Kandhamal district emerged as one of the coldest places in Odisha, with the minimum temperature dropping to 3°C. Kandhamal and surrounding high-altitude areas also recorded temperatures hovering below 3°C, further intensifying the chill.
The severe cold has forced people, especially in rural and tribal regions, to seek warmth around open fires during early mornings and late evenings. For many, bonfires have become the primary defence against the relentless winter cold.
With temperatures expected to remain low, authorities have urged residents to take necessary precautions, particularly the elderly, children, and those living in vulnerable conditions, as Odisha braces for a few more days of extreme winter.
Weather Forecast
Day 1 (0830 hrs IST, January 8 to January 9, 2026):Yellow Warning— Cold wave conditions are very likely in isolated pockets of Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Balasore, Khordha, Angul, Jharsuguda, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Sundargarh, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Sonepur and Nabarangpur districts.
Day 2 (0830 hrs IST, January 9 to January 10, 2026):Yellow Warning— Cold wave conditions are very likely in isolated pockets of Jharsuguda, Sundargarh, Angul, Mayurbhanj, Deogarh, Keonjhar and Sambalpur districts.
