City continues to feel the chill with consecutive days of sub-10C temp

Bhubaneswar: The capital city and rest of Odisha are witnessing a sustained spell of cold nights that citizens have not experienced in years. After an unusually prolonged monsoon, the chill has lingered well into the season, with the city recording minimum temperatures of 10°C or even lower for several days together.The extended cold has added a crisp edge to early mornings and late evenings, reshaping daily routines and drawing attention to shifting weather patterns. In the city, drop in night temperatures has been especially notable.Bhubaneswar, which in recent years has seen comparatively milder winters, is now witnessing biting cold. Morning walkers and commuters are stepping out in fog and a pronounced bite in the breeze, while households are adjusting schedules to make the most of warmer daylight hours."I never experienced such cold during the last 14 years. But I have no complaints. I am enjoying it," said Himanshu Behera, a resident of Kanan Vihar.The prolonged cold spell is also being felt in other parts of the state, with many districts reporting lower-than-usual minimum temperatures. Clearer skies, combined with dry northerly and north-westerly winds, are aiding the drop in temperaure at night.Manorama Mohanty, director of the IMD's Bhubaneswar centre, said temperatures drop when northerly and north-westerly winds flow in the state. "During the last few days, the state received cold northerly and north-westerly winds. Humidity remained very low; the almost dry air favoured the cold conditions. Lack of fog kept the sky clear and helped in temperature drop," she added.Senior meteorologist Sarat Chandra Sahu said a low pressure formed over the Bay of Bengal and the flow of dry, cold winds from the Himalayan foothills, without any western disturbance, helped further reduce temperatures. "Even the clear sky and low moisture helped in this process. I also did not feel this type of cold in the city since 2004," he added.The extended winter is also giving a lift to local tourism and outdoor activities. Scenic spots and weekend getaways are drawing visitors eager to enjoy the pleasant day paired with brisk evenings. Tea stalls and small eateries are seeing higher footfall as people crave for warm snacks and hot beverages, adding a seasonal boost to small businesses."We were complaining about the disappearance of cold during winter, especially in the capital city. But this year's cold has compensated for our longing for bone-chilling winter nights," said Binod Kumar Bihari, a Damana resident.