Madhya Pradesh is in the grip of sharp cold weather this December. A series of western disturbances over the Himalayan region has pushed icy winds deep into the state. The meteorological department says a new system will build on December 13 and keep the cold flow active for many more days.
Large parts of the state have already seen a steady fall in temperature. Shahdol’s Kalyanpur reached three degrees Celsius, marking the season’s lowest reading in MP. Umaria followed at 4.9 degrees. Indore recorded 5.4 degrees, while Bhopal stood at 6.8 degrees. These figures show a quick and steady slide that has affected almost every division. Many cities remained below ten degrees through Tuesday and Wednesday night.
Bhopal and Indore are under a cold wave alert. Rajgarh, Shajapur and Sehore also fall under the same warning. The department says the trend will continue through December because snowfall in the northern mountains started early this season. Cold wind from Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand has strengthened the drop across central India.
The jet stream has become another factor behind the fall. It is flowing over North India at an altitude of about twelve kilometers with a speed of 222 kilometers per hour. This strong upper-air current has pulled colder air farther south. Meteorologists say this is adding to the grip of the cold wave in MP. Retired Bhopal Meteorological Centre director DP Dubey said global weather models pointed toward a clear pattern this year. “La Niña will be active this time,” he said. He explained that the cooling of the Pacific Ocean leads to colder air and a shift in pressure toward Asia and India. According to him, that push is behind the early and intense winter in central India.
November also broke long-standing records. Bhopal saw a cold wave for fifteen straight days, the highest since 1931. The minimum temperature dropped to 5.2 degrees on the night of November 17, breaking the earlier low of 6.1 degrees recorded in 1941. Indore recorded 6.4 degrees, the lowest in twenty-five years for the month. This set the stage for the ongoing December chill, which has now broken Indore’s ten-year record for the same period.
Snowfall in the northern mountains started earlier than usual and deepened the chill across central India by nearly thirty percent. Weather experts say cold winds entered the Gwalior-Chambal, Bhopal-Vidisha, Ratlam-Mandsaur and Sagar-Damoh zones more strongly this year. The western disturbance remained active through November and early December. Winter showers followed in some areas, bringing the daytime temperature down by four to six degrees at several points.
December and January are the core winter months in MP, and the state usually receives stronger winds from the north during this period. Past data from the last decade shows a similar pattern every year, but the drop this season has been sharper. The department says strong western disturbances will continue through December. With that, the fall in day and night temperatures will stay in place.
Districts in the Gwalior, Chambal and Ujjain divisions are likely to feel the strongest impact. Sehore and Vidisha in the Bhopal division will also face colder days. In the Sagar division, Niwari, Chhatarpur, Tikamgarh and Panna will stay low. Mauganj in the Rewa division, along with Sidhi and Singrauli, will also remain cold. Mandla and Dindori in the Jabalpur division and Indore, Dhar and Jhabua in the Indore division are expected to see some of the sharpest readings.
Weather experts expect the cold wave to continue for twenty to twenty-two days in January. The state may also see short periods of winter showers that can push temperatures down again.
Latest Temperature across key cities
| City | Temperature (°C) | Forecast |
|---|---|---|
| Shahdol (Kalyanpur) | 3.0 | Continued cold wave |
| Umaria | 4.9 | Very cold nights ahead |
| Indore | 5.4 | Cold mornings, dry winds |
| Pachmarhi | 5.2 | Likely colder nights |
| Bhopal | 6.8 | Cold wave alert continues |
| Malajkhand | 6.7 | Steady drop at night |
| Mandla | 7.0 | Clear sky, sharp morning cold |
| Naugaon | 7.0 | Low minimum temperature |
| Raisen | 7.4 | Cold winds through week |
| Chhindwara | 7.8 | Falling night temperature |
| Shivpuri | 8.0 | Icy winds from north |
| Satna | 8.1 | Dry, cold conditions |
| Betul | 8.2 | Sharp morning chill |
| Khajuraho | 8.4 | Low night temperature |
| Narsinghpur | 8.8 | Cold nights continue |
| Gwalior | 9.3 | Cooler days ahead |
| Ujjain | 8.7 | Early morning chill |
| Jabalpur | 9.1 | Cold and dry |
| Sidhi | 9.2 | Clear but cold |
| Ratlam | 9.2 | Drop expected to continue |
| Tikamgarh | 9.5 | Mild drop in daytime temperature |
| Guna | 9.5 | Cold winds active |
| Jhabua | 9.6 | Steady fall at night |
Support us to keep independent environmental journalism alive in India.
Keep Reading
Small Wild Cats in Big Trouble: India’s First National Report Released
After Tragedy, Families Face Delays in Tiger Attack Compensation
Stay connected with Ground Report for underreported environmental stories.
