Since February arrived, temperatures in Odisha have been rising steadily, resulting in an ongoing heatwave. As February goes on, mercury levels have been gradually increasing, with some areas seeing a notable increase.

Ten cities in the state have seen temperatures above 35°C in the last week. In the meantime, temperatures in some places, such as Bolangir and Malkangiri, have reached as high as 36°C. Hirakud and Bhawanipatna recorded temperatures of 35.5°C, while Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, and Sundargarh recorded temperatures of 35.9°C. These other regions trailed closely behind.

Mercury to hover between 30 and 33 degrees in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar; dense fog alert for Odisha districts

Meanwhile, according to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), a depression over the Bay of Bengal is responsible for the dense fog observed in the coastal regions of Odisha this week. The impacts of a cyclonic belt across the Bay of Bengal have led to increased fog density along the coastal areas of Odisha.

Visibility in these areas has been impacted by the widespread fog conditions brought on by this meteorological configuration.

"Minimum temperatures observed appreciable rise at a few places over the districts of Coastal Odisha and no large change at elsewhere over the districts of Odisha," the IMD stated in its mid-day bulletin. They were significantly above normal in a number of locations throughout the districts of Coastal Odisha, somewhat above normal in a few locations throughout the districts of Interior Odisha, and above normal in other locations throughout the districts of Odisha.