Winter eased slightly across Odisha as temperatures rose significantly over the last 24 hours, with shallow to dense fog covering several areas in the state.
The night/minimum temperature climbed above 15°C in most locations. Paradip recorded 18.5°C, Puri registered 18.2°C, Gopalpur saw 18.1°C, Bhubaneswar reported 17.5°C, and Chhatrapur noted 17.4°C.
Despite the rise, some places recorded cooler nights, with G. Udayagiri at 9.5°C, Daringibari at 10.5°C, Rourkela at 11°C, Jharsuguda at 11.6°C, Phulbani at 12°C, and Sundargarh at 12.7°C.
The regional India Meteorological Department (IMD) in Bhubaneswar predicted a drop in night temperatures by 2°C to 3°C starting Sunday, signalling the return of winter chill across Odisha.
Dense fog enveloped Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Kalahandi, and Kandhamal on Thursday, reducing visibility and disrupting normal life. Early morning vehicular traffic slowed significantly in these areas due to poor visibility.
IMD issued a yellow fog warning for Sundargarh, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Kalahandi, and Kandhamal on Friday. Authorities advised residents to travel cautiously, particularly during the early morning and late evening hours when fog is densest. Motorists have been urged to use fog lights to enhance road safety.