Dense fog and a sharp drop in temperatures have gripped large parts of Odisha as the new year begins, disrupting morning travel and prompting weather alerts from the State Meteorological Centre. Visibility remained poor through much of the forenoon in the capital Bhubaneswar, where thick fog concealed the sun until late morning and made it difficult for commuters to see clearly.
Odisha cold wave warnings and forecast
The regional meteorological office, led by Dr Manorama Mahanti, has issued a series of orange and yellow warnings for different districts as very dense fog and cold conditions persist. Officials expect the cold wave to continue for the next four days, with local forecasts indicating a temporary rise in temperature by 2–3°C over the next three days before another fall of 2–4°C.
Local authorities have already declared orange warnings for several areas in Jagatsinghpur district due to extremely poor visibility, while yellow warnings have been issued for Puri, Kendrapara, Angul, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Baleshwar, Cuttack, Nayagarh, Khordha, Gajapati, Ganjam, Sundargarh and Kandhamal. For Saturday, additional orange warnings cover Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khordha and Cuttack, with yellow alerts in Kendrapara, Jajpur, Dhenkanal, Nayagarh, Kandhamal and Sundargarh.
Meteorological records for the latest observations show single-digit minimum temperatures across many parts of the state. Daringbadi reported a minimum of 7.5°C, while Jharsuguda recorded 7.8°C, which was about 4.2°C below the seasonal norm. Other reported minimums included 8°C in Anugul and Phulbani, 8.6°C in Rourkela and Koraput, 9°C in Keonjhar and Navarangpur, and around 9.2–9.6°C at other hill and plateau locations.
Officials say the combination of cold air and moisture is producing very dense fog at ground level, affecting road and rail operations. Motorists are advised to use low-beam headlights, maintain safe distances and avoid unnecessary travel in the early hours. Local health services have reminded residents, particularly the elderly and young children, to keep warm and watch for signs of cold-related illness.
The State Meteorological Centre will continue to monitor conditions and update warnings where necessary. Residents and travellers are urged to follow official advisories and check with local authorities for any disruptions to transport services. Farmers and livestock owners have also been asked to take precautions to protect crops and animals from the sudden temperature swings.
With the forecast indicating a short-lived rise in temperature followed by another dip, authorities stress that the public should prepare for fluctuating conditions over the coming week and take simple preventive measures such as layering clothing, securing water and food supplies, and limiting outdoor exposure during the coldest hours.
Key Takeaways:
- Dense fog and a cold wave have covered large parts of Odisha, prompting orange and yellow weather warnings.
- Temperatures fell to single digits in several districts, with Daringbadi recording 7.5°C and Jharsuguda 7.8°C.
- The meteorological centre forecasts a brief 2–3°C rise followed by another 2–4°C drop over the coming days.
- Authorities have issued warnings for districts including Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khordha, Cuttack and others; residents are advised to take precautions.
