After rain, state braces for another round of cold wave

Bhubaneswar: If you were planning to pack up the woollens and get ready for the hot summer months, don’t do it yet. For the cold wave is set to return soon after the rain and cloud disappear.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that chilly weather conditions will continue till February 10 and there will be a further drop in temperature after the cloud cover clears.
“The rain and return of cold is due to a western disturbance. Besides, a low level easterly wind is instrumental in bringing back the chill. The situation became worse due to a cyclonic circulation in West Bengal and a trough line over Tamil Nadu and Chhattisgarh. These systems are causing extortions of moisture from the Bay of Bengal,” said H R Biswas, director of IMD’s Bhubaneswar centre.
On Saturday, thick fog engulfed several parts of the state which witnessed rain accompanied by cold winds. The fog affected road, rail and flight movement. A flight from Jharsuguda airport was cancelled due to bad weather while several trains got delayed due to early morning fog.
The met office has issued yellow warning for rain, thunderstorm with lightening and gusty surface wind in 13 coastal and interior districts in the next three days. “Besides, there will be dense fog in the districts of Sundagarh, Keonjhar, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Kalahandi, Sonepur and Balangir,” the IMD bulletin said.
“After the cloud cover clears, cold wave conditions may return to some districts. Temperature may fall significantly in Angul and Sonepur districts,” said Biswas.
He further stated, “February is considered as the last month of winter and conditions like this is not very unusual. By the end of the month night temperature starts increasing while day temperature starts increasing much before that. But this winter has seen intermittent fall in temperature for short periods,” he pointed out.
Minimum temperature saw appreciable fall in the districts of coastal Odisha and was below normal. The highest maximum temperature of 32 degree Celsius was recorded at Malkangiri and the lowest minimum temperature of 11 degree Celsius was recorded at Sundergarh in the plains of Odisha. Keonjhar recorded highest rainfall of 22 mm between 8.30 am and 5.30 pm on Saturday.
The day temperature in Bhubaneswar plunged to 20.6 degree Celsius while minimum temperature fell down to 16.6 degree on Saturday. Due to bad weather, many people preferred to remain indoors while roads and markets wore a deserted look.
“It was a very unusual weather in Bhubaneswar, one very similar to North India. Cold winds are blowing throughout the day. The nights are quite cold. I had stored my woollens but have brought them out again with the chill’s return,” said Swastika Mishra, a private firm employee.