Chill to set over next 2 days, fog to prevail too, says IMD

Bhubaneswar: The IMD on Thursday forecast colder days ahead with the minimum temperature set to dip by 3°C to 5°C on Friday and Saturday. Shallow to moderate fog would prevail at isolated places in select districts.
Head of regional IMD centre H R Biswas said strengthening of northerly and north-westerly wind at the lower level would influence the dip in mercury. The trend may continue for two to three days from Sunday. Chances of fog would reduce with drop in temperature, he said.
Former director of regional IMD centre Sarat Chandra Sahu said drop in minimum temperature would continue till January 10, after which mercury is likely to rise again.
On Thursday, Balasore recorded 11.7°C with G Udayagiri following suit at 12°C. Sambalpur at 17.8°C saw the highest 7.4°C from normal in the state. Phulbani at 14°C recorded the day’s next major rise by 6.6°C. Bhubaneswar recorded 15.8°C. Dense fog was also experienced in Cuttack, Angul and Balangir.