Dense fog covered large parts of Madhya Pradesh on Friday morning, causing significant disruptions to rail traffic and weather in 17 districts across Gwalior, Chambal, Sagar, Rewa and Shahdol divisions turned severely foggy with moderate to dense conditions. Dozens of trains traveling from Delhi to Bhopal, Indore and Ujjain ran several hours behind schedule.
The northern region of the state bore the brunt of the foggy conditions. Visibility dropped dramatically in the early morning hours, making travel difficult and dangerous. Authorities advised commuters to check train schedules before leaving for stations.
Cold Wave Alert Issued for Seven Districts
The weather department issued a cold wave alert for seven districts on Friday. Datia, Niwari, Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur, Rewa, Mauganj and Shahdol will experience cold wave conditions. Shahdol will also face a particularly cold day with temperatures remaining low throughout.
On Thursday, Gwalior and Datia recorded day temperatures below 12 degrees Celsius. This marked the first time this season that day and night temperatures showed minimal difference. The unusual pattern indicates the intensity of the current cold spell gripping the region.
Khajuraho Records Lowest Temperature at 3.2°C
Khajuraho in Chhatarpur district emerged as the coldest place in Madhya Pradesh. The mercury plummeted to just 3.2 degrees Celsius on Thursday night. Other cities also shivered under freezing conditions with Rewa at 4.1 degrees, Datia at 4.2 degrees and Naugaon-Shivpuri at 5 degrees.
Umaria recorded 5.4 degrees while Pachmarhi saw 5.8 degrees. Most other cities in the state registered temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius. The widespread cold has affected daily life across the region.
Schools Closed in Morena Due to Extreme Cold
Morena recorded a minimum temperature of 6 degrees Celsius on Thursday night. Dense fog blanketed the entire district while bitter cold troubled residents. The district collector extended school holidays for classes one through eight until January 10.
The administration issued advisories for diabetes and heart patients. Officials urged them to take special precautions and avoid unnecessary outdoor exposure. The meteorological department forecasts no immediate relief from the cold conditions.
Temperature Patterns Show Unusual Trends
Gwalior experienced a dramatic temperature drop on Thursday. The mercury fell 7.8 degrees in a single day to reach 10.4 degrees Celsius. The day temperature stood at only 11.6 degrees, creating an unusually small gap between day and night readings.
This January’s cold has broken 10-year records in Bhopal. The pattern follows an exceptionally cold November and December. November was the coldest in 84 years while December broke 25-year records.
Weather Forecast for Coming Days
The meteorological department predicts continued fog coverage on Saturday. Gwalior, Sheopur, Morena, Bhind, Datia, Niwari, Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur, Panna, Satna, Rewa and Mauganj will remain fog-bound. Weather conditions may improve after Saturday with maximum and minimum temperatures potentially rising by 2 to 3 degrees.
Temperature and Weather Data for Major MP Cities
| City | Temperature (°C) | Weather Forecast |
|---|---|---|
| Khajuraho | 3.2 | Dense fog, extreme cold |
| Rewa | 4.1 | Cold wave, fog expected |
| Datia | 4.2 | Cold wave alert, fog |
| Naugaon-Shivpuri | 5.0 | Severe cold, fog |
| Umaria | 5.4 | Cold conditions, fog |
| Pachmarhi | 5.8 | Cold weather continues |
| Morena | 6.0 | Dense fog, schools closed |
| Gwalior | 10.4 | Cold day and night, fog |
| Bhopal | Variable | Cold wave conditions |
Residents across Madhya Pradesh should prepare for continued cold and foggy conditions in the coming days.
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