Madhya Pradesh is experiencing an unprecedented cold weather this winter, with temperatures dropping to levels not seen in decades. Multiple cities across the state recorded minimum temperatures around 5 degrees Celsius, shattering long-standing records and forcing residents to bundle up in heavy winter clothing.
Indore is facing its coldest nights in ten years. The city’s temperature plummeted to 5.2 degrees Celsius, matching the reading at Pachmarhi, the state’s only hill station. This unusual phenomenon highlights the severity of the current cold spell affecting the region.
The state capital Bhopal saw mercury dip to 6.5 degrees Celsius. Cold winds swept through Bhopal, Rajgarh, Indore, Sehore, and Shajapur, keeping residents wrapped in warm clothes throughout the day. Even though sunshine appeared during daytime hours, temperatures dropped sharply again by evening.
The Meteorological Department reports no cold wave alert for the next three days. However, officials warn that cold conditions will continue to affect the region. After six consecutive days of cold wave conditions in Bhopal, Thursday brought brief relief before Friday turned cold again.
Widespread Temperature Drops
Most cities across Madhya Pradesh recorded temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius during recent nights. Gwalior registered 9.1 degrees, Ujjain recorded 9 degrees, and Jabalpur saw 8.4 degrees Celsius. Several smaller cities experienced even colder conditions, with Rajgarh matching Indore at 5.2 degrees Celsius.
The cold penetrated deeper into the state than usual this year. Weather experts note that cold winds pushed 20 to 25 percent deeper into four major weather zones, including Gwalior-Chambal, Bhopal-Vidisha, Ratlam-Mandsaur, and Sagar-Damoh.
Multiple Weather Factors Combine
According to DP Dubey, retired director of the Bhopal Meteorological Centre, several factors are contributing to this intense cold spell. Global weather models indicated that La Niña would be active this season. La Niña causes cooling of the Pacific Ocean, which creates colder air masses and pushes high pressure systems toward Asia and India.
Snowfall in the hilly states of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir started much earlier than usual this year. Early snowfall in high mountain areas increases the coldness of central India by 20 to 30 percent. In Uttarakhand, rivers and waterfalls have frozen solid, and mercury readings have dropped below zero in many cities.
The jet stream is also playing a significant role. Weather experts explain that this strong wind blows at approximately 12 kilometers above ground level. Currently flowing at speeds exceeding 200 kilometers per hour, the jet stream is active over northern India and its effects are clearly visible in Madhya Pradesh. When cold winds from northern plains combine with snowy winds from hilly areas and an active jet stream, the cold intensifies dramatically.
Western Disturbance, a seasonal weather system reaching North India, adds another layer to the cold conditions. When Western Disturbance activates, light winter rains occur. These rains can drop temperatures by 4 to 6 degrees Celsius.
Historic Records Fall
This winter has broken multiple records across Madhya Pradesh. Bhopal experienced a cold wave for 15 consecutive days in November, the longest since records began in 1931. On November 17, the mercury reached 5.2 degrees, breaking the previous record of 6.1 degrees set on November 30, 1941. This November cold broke an 84-year-old record.
Indore recorded 6.4 degrees in November, marking the coldest night in 25 years. December continues the trend, with Indore breaking its own 10-year December record.
Weather experts predict cold waves will continue affecting many cities through December and January. Cold wave conditions could last 20 to 22 days in January. December and January typically experience the most severe cold as winds from North India move southward more frequently during these months.
| City | Temperature (°C) | Forecast |
|---|---|---|
| Indore | 5.2 | Severe cold continues |
| Pachmarhi | 5.2 | Cold persists |
| Rajgarh | 5.2 | Very cold conditions |
| Bhopal | 6.5 | Cold wave effects |
| Naugaon | 6.6 | Below normal |
| Umaria | 6.6 | Cold winds |
| Rewa | 7.0 | Cold continues |
| Gwalior | 9.1 | Cold conditions |
| Ujjain | 9.0 | Below normal |
| Jabalpur | 8.4 | Cold persists |
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