In a major relief from the severe cold conditions that have gripped several parts of Odisha in recent days, temperatures have begun to rise in Jharsuguda and Keonjhar under the influence of the western disturbance.
Earlier, the Met department had predicted the cold wave to persist until January 17. The recent increase comes under the influence of a western disturbance moving across the region, which has softened the cold wave slightly.
According to the latest weather reports, the mercury in Jharsuguda has increased by 2 degrees Celsius, reaching 8.8°C early in the morning. Keonjhar also experienced a slight rise in temperatures, with the mercury climbing by 1.2 degrees Celsius to 10.6 degrees Celsius by 5.30 am, offering residents a brief respite from the chilly conditions.
The capital city, Bhubaneswar, also recorded 12 degrees Celsius at 5:30 AM.
Record-breaking cold in Jharsuguda
The severe cold wave has gripped the state, with Jharsuguda earlier witnessing record-breaking temperatures by shattering its previous all-time low of 5.6°C, not once but five times this season.
According to weather data, the mercury dropped to 4.5°C on January 10, 2026, marking the lowest temperature ever recorded in Jharsuguda. The district had earlier recorded 4.6°C on January 9, followed by 5°C on January 16, 5.1°C on January 6, and 5.4°C on January 7 this season.
As per IMDS, the last time Jharsuguda town recorded such a low temperature was in 1953.
