Bhubaneswar: The winter chill is likely to return to Odisha with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Thursday predicting a rise in the night temperature by 2-4°C after 4 days.
The minimum temperature may not see large change during the next 4 days and thereafter fall by 2-4°C across the state, according to the midday bulletin.
With the well-marked low-pressure area over southwest Bay of Bengal expected to move nearly northwestwards towards north Tamil Nadu and south Andhra Pradesh coast during next 12 hours and then northwards along Andhra Pradesh coast in subsequent 24 hours, rain may continue in Odisha till December 21.
The weather agency has forecast light rain or thundershower at one or two places in Malkangiri, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Ganjam, Gajapati, Nayagarh, Khurda, Puri, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Bhadrak, Angul and Boudh on December 19, and Angul, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Sonepur, Boudh, Nuapada, Bolangir, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri and at a few places in coastal Odisha.on December 20.
Shallow to moderate fog may also occur at one or two places in Kandhamal , Kalahandi and Sundargarh district till December 20 morning.
Intensity of shower is expected to decrease on December 21 with light rain at one or two places in Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Puri, Khurda, Cuttack, Jajpur, Balasore, Mayurbhanj and Bhadrak. Dry weather will prevail across the state thereafter, it added.
According to the extended weather out look for Odisha, the minimum temperature of 14-16°C is likely in most parts of Coastal Odisha and some parts of South Interior Odisha, 10-14°C in remaining parts of Coastal Odisha and most parts of Interior Odisha, 6-10°C in remaining parts of Interior Odisha from Decemeber 20-26.
A fresh and active western disturbance may also affect western Himalayan region and adjoining plains from December 27.