Bhubaneswar: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday issued a yellow warning for dense fog in several districts of Odisha, cautioning residents about poor visibility during early morning hours over the next 24 to 48 hours.
According to the Midday Weather Bulletin released by the Meteorological Centre in Bhubaneswar, dense fog is very likely at isolated places in Kandhamal, Koraput, Boudh, Puri, Khordha, Nayagarh, Gajapati, Ganjam, Bolangir and Cuttack till the morning of January 6. Commuters and motorists have been advised to remain cautious, particularly on highways and rural roads, due to reduced visibility.
The weather office reported dense to very dense fog at one or two locations in Boudh, Bolangir, Koraput and Kandhamal districts, while shallow to moderate fog was observed in parts of Jajpur, Gajapati, Kalahandi, Sonepur, Ganjam, Mayurbhanj, Sambalpur and Sundargarh. Despite the foggy conditions, dry weather continues to prevail across the state, with no significant weather system currently affecting Odisha.
Temperatures across the state showed a mixed trend, with minimum temperatures dropping by about 2 to 4 degrees Celsius at isolated places, particularly in interior regions. Jharsuguda recorded the lowest minimum temperature at 8.8 degrees Celsius, while Bargarh registered the highest maximum temperature at 29.8 degrees Celsius. The IMD said night temperatures are likely to dip further over the next four days before stabilising.
In Bhubaneswar and nearby areas, dense fog is expected during early morning hours over the next 24 hours. The maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to remain around 27 degrees Celsius and 16 degrees Celsius respectively, with high humidity contributing to persistent fog conditions.
The IMD has also issued an advisory for farmers, warning that dense fog may impact early morning agricultural activities in several districts. No warning has been issued for fishermen, as sea conditions along the Odisha coast are expected to remain calm for the next five days.