As the mercury dropped even lower in the state on Tuesday, with the highland Daringbadi registering a temperature of 3.5 degrees Celsius, severe cold wave conditions are expected to sweep through portions of Odisha over the next two to three days, according to the state's weather office. Also read: Delhi is gripped by a cold wave as the minimum temperature drops to 3.2 degrees Celsius.

The city of Bhubaneswar had the third lowest December temperature in the previous ten years, with a temperature of 10 degrees Celsius, which was 5.2 degrees Celsius below average, according to the weather service. Bhawanipanta, in the Kalahandi district, reported the lowest temperature of 6 degrees Celsius, which was 6.6 degrees Celsius below the average temperature for the area. The temperature dropped by at least 4.5 degrees Celsius in nine locations throughout Bhadrak, Balasore, Ganjam, Mayurbhanj, and other districts on Monday. Check also these related articles: Delhi Shivers at 4.4 Degrees Celsius, and Yellow Alert Issued For Extreme Cold

The cold wave is declared by India Meteorological Department (IMD) when the minimum temperature drops to at least 4 degrees Celsius in the plains or below 10 degrees with at least 4.5 notches less than usual in the mountainous areas. Also read - A cold wave grips northern India, with temperatures in Delhi down to 4.6 degrees Celsius; a Yellow Alert is issued in Uttarakhand and an Orange Alert in Rajasthan.

A severe cold wave occurs when the lowest temperature drops below 2 degrees Celsius or when the deviation from normal temperature is equal to or more than 6.5 degrees Celsius. When the minimum temperature is 15 degrees or less, or when the departure is less than or equal to 4.5 degrees, it is considered a cold wave for coastal stations.

The coldest spots in the state were Daringbadi and Phulbani, both of which are located in the Kandhamal district, where temperatures dropped to 3.5 and 4.0 degrees Celsius, respectively. The lowest temperature recorded at Similiguda, in the Koraput district, was 4.5 degrees Celsius, while the highest temperature recorded in Cuttack was 10.1 degrees Celsius.

Malkangiri and Koraput had dense fog in certain areas, while Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Bhadrak, and Khurda experienced a chilly day in a few locations. In areas where the lowest temperature is less than or equal to 10 degrees Celsius, a cold day is proclaimed if the maximum temperature is at least 4.5 degrees Celsius below the usual for the time of year.