Madhya Pradesh is experiencing one of its harshest winter weather in decades. The state recorded temperatures as low as 3.8 degrees Celsius on Monday night. Dense fog and biting cold winds have disrupted daily life across multiple districts.
Kalyanpur Records Lowest Temperature
Kalyanpur in Shahdol district became the coldest location in the state. The mercury plummeted to 3.8 degrees Celsius during the night. Rajgarh followed closely as the second coldest area with temperatures touching 4 degrees Celsius.
The extreme cold produced unusual scenes across the state. In Dindouri, a layer of dew froze on vehicles parked along the Narmada riverbank. Similar frost formations appeared in Pachmarhi, Shajapur, and Raisen districts on Monday morning.
Jet Stream Intensifies Cold Conditions
The meteorological department reported the jet stream speed reached 287 kilometers per hour. This weather phenomenon has intensified the cold wave affecting cities throughout Madhya Pradesh. Cold wave conditions impacted Bhopal, Rajgarh, Indore, and Shahdol in the last 24 hours.
Major cities recorded significantly low nighttime temperatures. Bhopal registered 5.6 degrees Celsius, while Indore recorded 6.4 degrees. Gwalior saw temperatures drop to 9 degrees, Jabalpur to 8 degrees, and Ujjain to 9.5 degrees Celsius.
Twenty-five cities across the state recorded temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius. Pachmarhi measured 5.2 degrees, Malajkhand recorded 5.3 degrees, and Mandla saw 5.8 degrees. Other affected cities included Khajuraho, Shivpuri, Damoh, and Chhindwara.
Fog Disrupts Transportation
Dense fog blanketed several districts including Gwalior, Bhind, Datia, Niwari, Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur, and Panna. The visibility issues caused significant delays for trains arriving from Delhi. Services to Bhopal, Indore, and Ujjain ran four to five hours behind schedule on Tuesday morning.
Schools Announce Winter Break
The state government responded to the extreme weather by declaring winter vacations. Schools from UKG to Class 12 will remain closed from December 31 to January 4. The school education department issued official orders for the closure.
Day Temperatures Also Plunge
The cold affected daytime temperatures as well. Gwalior experienced a dramatic drop of 7 degrees in a single day, reaching only 15.9 degrees Celsius. Other cities recorded similarly low daytime readings. Naugaon measured 19.5 degrees, Khajuraho 20.1 degrees, and Rewa 20.2 degrees Celsius.
Breaking Historical Records
This winter has shattered previous records. Bhopal experienced a cold wave for 15 consecutive days in November, the longest stretch since 1931. The city recorded 5.2 degrees on November 17, breaking the previous record of 6.1 degrees set in 1941.
Indore experienced its coldest night in 25 years when temperatures dropped to 6.4 degrees Celsius. This marked the lowest December temperature recorded in the city.
Regional Impact Varies
The Gwalior, Chambal, and Ujjain divisions face the most severe conditions. Cold winds from snow-covered northern regions blow directly into these areas. Sagar and Rewa divisions also experience significant cold effects.
Districts like Sehore, Raisen, Rajgarh, and Vidisha in the Bhopal division report intense cold. Areas including Niwari, Chhatarpur, Tikamgarh, Mauganj, Sidhi, and Singrauli face similar harsh conditions.
The meteorological department expects cold winds to continue affecting the state. Western disturbances remain active, bringing cold air from North India into Madhya Pradesh.
Temperature Table
| City | Temperature (°C) | Weather Forecast |
|---|---|---|
| Kalyanpur | 3.8 | Severe cold wave |
| Rajgarh | 4.0 | Cold wave continues |
| Pachmarhi | 5.2 | Dense fog, cold |
| Bhopal | 5.6 | Cold wave, fog |
| Indore | 6.4 | Cold conditions |
| Jabalpur | 8.0 | Cold winds |
| Gwalior | 9.0 | Fog, cold wave |
| Ujjain | 9.5 | Cold conditions |
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