Madhya Pradesh is bracing for another intense cold wave starting January 7, with temperatures expected to dip by 2–3 degrees Celsius. Dense fog was already reported in regions like Ujjain and the Gwalior-Chambal belt, signaling the onset of freezing conditions. Meteorological experts attribute this upcoming cold spell to an active Western Disturbance that will bring icy winds to the state.
According to Meteorologist V.S. Yadav, the impact of this weather system, currently active in the northwestern region, will intensify over the next 48 hours. The cold winds are expected to gain speed, causing a noticeable drop in both daytime and nighttime temperatures. In addition to the chill, there is a possibility of light rain around January 10 due to the Western Disturbance.
The effects of the cold are already being felt in many parts of the state. In Chhindwara, dew drops were found frozen on leaves, and the minimum temperature dropped to 4.8 degrees Celsius. A striking orange and red sky was observed in Sehore, adding to the unusual weather phenomena. Fog enveloped cities like Chhatarpur, where visibility remained low until 8:30 am, with temperatures hovering around 12 degrees Celsius.
Cloudy conditions persisted in Khargone, where temperatures slightly increased by 0.5 degrees over the past 24 hours. In Raisen, after two days of sunshine, dense clouds covered the sky from Sunday morning.
The cold is a result of icy winds traveling from the northern regions due to heavy snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Ladakh. Jet streams at an altitude of 12.6 km were recorded at a speed of 240 km/h, intensifying the cold across the state. With melting snow in the northern regions, wind speed is expected to increase further, exacerbating the cold wave in Madhya Pradesh.
The Meteorological Department has issued a fog alert for multiple districts, including Gwalior, Neemuch, Mandsaur, Sheopur, Morena, Bhind, Datia, Shivpuri, Guna, Ashoknagar, Niwari, Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur, Satna, Sidhi, Mauganj, Singrauli, Maihar, Umaria, Shahdol, and Anuppur, for January 6. Moderate fog conditions are likely to prevail on January 7 in districts like Rewa, Shahdol, Anuppur, and Tikamgarh.
On Friday and Saturday nights, temperatures remained below 9 degrees Celsius in cities such as Bhopal (7.2°C), Indore (11.4°C), Gwalior (8.3°C), and Jabalpur (7.6°C). Kalyanpur in Shahdol recorded the coldest temperature at 4.1°C, followed by Pachmarhi at 4.5°C and Mandla at 5°C. Other regions, including Rewa, Raisen, Khajuraho, Khandwa, and Betul, also recorded minimum temperatures below 10°C.
Despite the chilling nights, some areas experienced warmer daytime temperatures on Saturday. Bhopal recorded a high of 29.9°C, while Indore reached 31.6°C and Ujjain peaked at 31.5°C. In contrast, colder regions like Khajuraho recorded a daytime high of just 19.2°C, with Gwalior at 21.7°C and Jabalpur at 26.4°C.
This spell follows record-breaking cold in November and December. In November, Bhopal broke a 36-year-old record, with temperatures consistently 7°C below normal. Similarly, December witnessed a cold wave lasting nine days, making it colder than January in many parts of the state.
Authorities have taken several measures to mitigate the impact of the cold. School timings have been adjusted in cities like Bhopal, Indore, and Gwalior. Heaters have been installed in Bhopal's Van Vihar National Park to protect animals from the severe chill, while residents are also taking precautions to safeguard their health and well-being.
The Meteorological Department forecasts that January will remain cold, with the cold wave likely to persist for 20–22 days. Residents are advised to prepare for extended freezing conditions and stay updated on weather alerts.
