Madhya Pradesh is reeling under a double blow of intense cold weather and thick fog that has reduced visibility to dangerous levels across half the state. The weather department issued alerts for 22 districts on Tuesday, with conditions expected to worsen as a new western disturbance approaches.
Orange Alert Issued for 12 Districts
The Meteorological Department issued an orange alert for dense fog in 12 districts on Tuesday morning. Visibility could drop to just 50 meters in Gwalior, Morena, Bhind, Datia, Niwari, Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur, Panna, Satna, Rewa, Mauganj, and Sidhi. Ten other districts received yellow alerts, where fog will limit visibility to one or two kilometers.
Monday morning brought the first major fog event of the winter season. Rewa suffered the worst conditions, with nothing visible beyond 50 meters. Similar conditions gripped Morena and Raisen. In Bhopal, visibility ranged from 500 to 1,000 meters throughout the morning. The fog persisted all day, making it difficult to see beyond two and a half kilometers even in the afternoon.
The mercury has dropped sharply across the state. On Sunday-Monday night, Bhopal recorded 5.8 degrees Celsius, while Indore saw 6.6 degrees. Gwalior registered 9.1 degrees, Ujjain 9.3 degrees, and Jabalpur 9.4 degrees. Pachmarhi and Rajgarh emerged as the coldest places in Madhya Pradesh at 5.4 degrees Celsius.
The cold spell has shattered historical records. Bhopal experienced a cold wave for 15 consecutive days in November, the coldest stretch since 1931. On November 17, the temperature plummeted to 5.2 degrees, breaking the previous record of 6.1 degrees set on November 30, 1941. Indore recorded 6.4 degrees, its coldest night in 25 years.
Multiple Factors Driving Severe Cold
According to DP Dubey, retired director of the Bhopal Meteorological Centre, multiple factors are driving this severe cold. La Niña, which cools the Pacific Ocean, has pushed cold air pressure toward Asia and India since November. Early snowfall in Himachal, Uttarakhand, and Kashmir started much earlier than usual this year, increasing the chill in central India by 20 to 30 percent. Cold winds have penetrated 20 to 25 percent deeper into four major weather zones this year.
The Meteorological Department warns that conditions will deteriorate further. A new western disturbance will affect the western Himalayan region from the night of December 17. Its impact will reach Madhya Pradesh within two to three days, followed by another disturbance that will intensify the cold.
The jet stream, a strong wind blowing at 12 kilometers above ground, has accelerated from 176 kilometers per hour on Sunday to 222 kilometers per hour on Monday. This high-altitude wind combines with snowy winds from the mountains to amplify the cold across northern India and Madhya Pradesh.
Safety Advisories Issued
Authorities issued safety advisories for residents. The weather department urged drivers to use fog lights and reduce speed when traveling through fog. Health officials recommended covering the head, neck, fingers, and toes to maintain body warmth. They advised consulting doctors for flu, cold, or cough symptoms and eating fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C. Agricultural scientists told farmers to consult experts before sowing wheat, gram, mustard, and peas, and warned against burning crop stubble.
Weather experts predict cold waves will sweep many cities in December, lasting 20 to 22 days in January. All districts in Gwalior, Chambal, and Ujjain divisions will experience severe cold as snowy winds flow directly from the mountains. Bhopal division’s Sehore and Vidisha, along with Niwari, Chhatarpur, Tikamgarh, and Panna in Sagar division, will face intense cold. Mandla and Dindouri in Jabalpur division and Indore, Dhar, and Jhabua in Indore division should brace for harsh conditions.
Temperature and Weather Forecast
| City | Temperature (°C) | Weather Forecast |
|---|---|---|
| Pachmarhi | 5.4 | Coldest in state, dense fog expected |
| Rajgarh | 5.4 | Coldest in state, dense fog expected |
| Bhopal | 5.8 | Yellow fog alert, 1-2 km visibility |
| Betul | 5.8 | Dense fog likely |
| Indore | 6.6 | Dense fog, cold wave continues |
| Umaria | 7.0 | Yellow fog alert |
| Rewa | 7.5 | Orange alert, 50m visibility |
| Raisen | 7.6 | Dense fog conditions |
| Gwalior | 9.1 | Orange alert, 50m visibility |
| Ujjain | 9.3 | Severe cold expected |
| Jabalpur | 9.4 | Yellow fog alert |
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