Madhya Pradesh is facing a sharp fall in temperature due to a fast-moving wind belt high above the ground. Bhopal, Indore, Rajgarh, Sehore, Shahdol and Pachmarhi recorded minimums near or below 7 degrees. Farmers reported frozen dew, and fog gripped river banks in Mandla and Kanha.
The cold arrived not only because of local wind movement but due to a powerful system at higher altitude. This system has pushed icy air from snow-covered northern regions straight into central India. Even with sunlight through the day, the chill remains trapped.
Meteorologists say this cold wave will continue until the high-altitude wind pattern slows or shifts. Only then will Madhya Pradesh see steady warming after sunrise.
What is the jet stream?
Weather experts describe the jet stream as a strong wind moving at a height close to 12 km above the ground. It runs in a narrow band across continents and remains active in the northern belt of India during winter. Its speed this week touched around 222 km per hour.
It gathers cold air from a wide zone. Snow-covered mountain winds mix with cold plains air. When both move together inside the upper belt, the effect increases sharply. Western Disturbance adds to this mix. That system brings snow and moisture to North India. When the jet stream forms at the same time, the cold doubles.
The belt acts like a direct channel. Cold winds from the Himalayas and northern plains do not break on hills or valleys. They travel without pause and reach Madhya Pradesh in a strong line.
How the jet stream works?
The jet stream moves like a straight corridor for air. Snow on northern peaks chills the air above. That air rises and joins the belt. Since nothing slows it at high altitude, the cold travels fast and far.
Terrain does not stop this wind. Valleys, plains, highways and rivers do not affect it. The speed at the top carries cold air faster than any ground wind can. This explains the sudden fall in night readings in several states at once.
Western Disturbance adds to the effect. Snow and moisture gather in the north. The jet stream then drives that chill across the plains in one long stretch. The two systems together strengthen the cold wave.
How it impacts weather?
Frozen dew formed on crops in Raisen and Sehore. Pachmarhi touched near 5 degrees. Fog settled over Mandla at dawn. In Chhindwara, minimum readings stayed below 10 degrees for four days. People stepped out wrapped in woollens early in the morning.
The wind at the top blocks morning warmth. Even when the sun rises, the air does not heat up. Cold continues to flow downward. This keeps winter locked over farms, river basins and cities.
Relief will arrive only when the high wind belt weakens or shifts north. Until that happens, Madhya Pradesh will continue to see biting nights, fog pockets and frozen dew in the fields.
Support us to keep independent environmental journalism alive in India.
Keep Reading
Small Wild Cats in Big Trouble: India’s First National Report Released
After Tragedy, Families Face Delays in Tiger Attack Compensation
Stay connected with Ground Report for underreported environmental stories.
