Odisha to experience temperature rise amid rain and thunderstorms, says IMD

Bhubaneswar, Dec 17: Following a brief cold wave, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) announced on Tuesday that Odisha can expect a rise in night temperatures by 3 to 5 degrees Celsius over the next three days, accompanied by rain and thunderstorms.

This forecast comes after temperatures dipped to 4.7°C in G Udayagiri, a hill station in Kandhamal district, and recorded 5.7°C in Rourkela, 6.5°C in Similiguda, 7.2°C in Jharsuguda, and 7.5°C in Phulbani.

The minimum temperature in Bhubaneswar was noted at 13.6°C, while Cuttack recorded 12.5°C. Bhubaneswar had experienced its lowest temperature of the season at 10.9°C on Sunday, amidst a persistent cold wave that lasted three days.

The IMD has predicted light rain and thunderstorms in parts of Ganjam and Gajapati on December 17, with similar conditions expected in Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Malkangiri, and Koraput on December 18.

The forecast also indicates the potential for shallow to moderate fog in Kalahandi and Sundargarh until the morning of December 18. The intensity of rain and thunderstorms may escalate over the next two days, with a yellow warning for thunderstorms and lightning issued for several districts on December 19. A low-pressure area over the southwest Bay of Bengal is expected to strengthen and shift west-northwest towards the Tamil Nadu coast within the next two days.