Madhya Pradesh is experiencing severe cold conditions, with icy winds and dense fog blanketing large parts of the state. Seven districts, including Bhopal and Sagar, have been issued a cold-day alert, and most areas woke up to freezing temperatures and reduced visibility on Saturday.
Thick morning fog in Tikamgarh, Ashoknagar, and Sendhwa reduced visibility to 10 meters in Sendhwa and 50 meters in Ashoknagar. During the day, people used vehicle headlights, creating a ghostly atmosphere. The low visibility impacted air travel, delaying two flights in and out of Indore. A Bangalore-Indore flight landed two hours late, and an Indore-Delhi flight took off 90 minutes behind schedule.
Plummeting temperatures statewide
Jabalpur recorded a minimum temperature of 7°C, three degrees below normal, and a maximum temperature of 20.8°C, four degrees below average. Gwalior experienced dense fog from the night, reducing visibility to 50 meters. The cold wave has intensified, making it uncomfortable even during the day.
The Meteorological Department predicts cold conditions and fog for the next three days. On Friday, cold-day-like conditions were observed in 18 cities, including Bhopal, Indore, Ujjain, and Jabalpur, with daytime temperatures below 23°C.
Historical data shows January often has extreme weather in Madhya Pradesh. Bhopal’s coldest night temperature was 0.6°C on January 18, 1935, while Indore’s record low was -1.1°C on January 16, 1935. Jabalpur received over 8 inches of rainfall in January 1919.
Northern winds significantly affect these conditions, especially in Gwalior and Ujjain. Gwalior-Chambal has been the coldest in recent years, with temperatures occasionally dropping below freezing.
Outlook for the coming days
The Meteorological Department forecast continued dense fog and cold weather in multiple districts, including:
January 19: Fog in Gwalior, Sheopur, Morena, Bhind, Datia, Shivpuri, Guna, Ashoknagar, Sagar, Niwari, Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur, Panna, Satna, Rewa, Sidhi, and Singrauli.
January 20: Fog in Gwalior, Morena, Sheopur, Bhind, Datia, Niwari, Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur, and Sagar.
Authorities urged residents to exercise caution while travelling in foggy conditions and to wear adequate layers to stay warm. Schools and workplaces are advised to adjust schedules for reduced morning visibility.
Madhya Pradesh residents brace themselves for more freezing conditions as January progresses, hoping for an early end to the cold wave.
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