Madhya Pradesh is experiencing a sharp drop in night weather, with several districts recording mercury levels below 5 degrees Celsius. Shahdol and Katni have emerged as the coldest regions, while major cities including Gwalior and Bhopal face chilly nights.
The India Meteorological Department reports that a western disturbance will become active in the Himalayan region from January 16. This weather system is expected to bring rainfall to Madhya Pradesh within three to four days.
Weather Systems at Play
A trough is currently passing near the western part of the country, though its impact has not yet reached Madhya Pradesh. Meteorologists describe the approaching western disturbances as strong, indicating probable rain or cloudy conditions across multiple districts.
Jet stream winds are blowing at 204 kilometers per hour at an altitude of 12.6 kilometers above sea level over east-north India. This phenomenon has affected weather patterns in Madhya Pradesh. On Wednesday, cold winds swept through several districts including Bhopal during daytime hours, though strong sunshine provided some relief.
The northern regions of Madhya Pradesh continue to experience fog conditions. Gwalior, Chambal, Sagar, and Rewa divisions remain particularly affected. Moderate fog covered Gwalior, Morena, Bhind, Datia, Niwari, Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur, Panna, Satna, and Rewa on Thursday morning.
Light fog was reported in Bhopal, Indore, Ujjain, Raisen, Sehore, Shajapur, Satna, Guna, Rajgarh, Ratlam, and Mandla.
Railway Services Face Delays
Train services from Delhi to Bhopal, Indore, and Ujjain are experiencing delays due to fog. Malwa, Jhelum, and Sachkhand Express trains face the maximum impact. Punjab Mail, Jan Shatabdi, and approximately a dozen other trains are also affected by reduced visibility conditions.
Kalyanpur in Shahdol recorded 4.8 degrees Celsius on Tuesday-Wednesday night, while Karoundi in Katni registered 4.9 degrees Celsius. These locations recorded the lowest temperatures in the state.
Other districts reported the following minimum temperatures: Rewa at 5.8 degrees, Mandsaur and Chitrakoot at 6.1 degrees, Khajuraho at 6.2 degrees, Umaria at 6.8 degrees, and Datia and Mandla at 7 degrees. Rajgarh and Naugaon recorded 7.2 degrees, Pachmarhi 7.8 degrees, Shivpuri 8 degrees, Damoh and Sidhi 9 degrees, and Raisen and Shyopur 9.4 degrees.
Among the five major cities, Gwalior recorded the lowest temperature at 7.1 degrees Celsius. Bhopal registered 9.8 degrees, Indore 10.2 degrees, Ujjain 11.2 degrees, and Jabalpur 10 degrees.
No Cold Wave Alert Issued
The meteorological department has not issued any cold wave alerts for Thursday. Officials state no cold day conditions are expected.
The November-December winter period in Madhya Pradesh broke historical records. November 2024 was the coldest in 84 years, while December broke a 25-year record. January continues this trend, breaking Bhopal’s 10-year cold record.
Weather experts note that sub-zero conditions have occurred in the state during January. Severe cold weather persists alongside thick fog in multiple regions.
Seasonal Weather Patterns
December and January represent the coldest months in Madhya Pradesh, similar to how July and August are crucial for monsoon rainfall. During these two months, cold winds from North India move more frequently into the state, causing significant temperature drops. Weather data from the past decade confirms this pattern.
The activation of western disturbances in January typically brings rainfall to the region. Last year, many districts received precipitation during this period. This year began with cloudy conditions on the first day.
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