Madhya Pradesh is bracing for severe cold and near-zero visibility conditions as dense fog continues to grip major cities across the state. With snowfall in northern regions sending icy winds southward, the state faces one of its harshest winter seasons in decades.
Dense Fog Blankets Madhya Pradesh
The fog has created dangerous driving conditions, particularly in the northern districts. Gwalior, Rewa, and Satna have recorded visibility dropping to just 50 to 200 meters during morning hours, effectively creating zero-vision scenarios for commuters. The situation has become so severe that navigating roads has become extremely difficult in many districts.
Meteorologist Arun Sharma warned that conditions will worsen in the coming days. He said the minimum temperature could fall by another 2 to 3 degrees from Wednesday night onward. The weather is expected to remain clear for the next five days with no chance of rain anywhere in the state.
Transportation networks have taken a major hit from the severe weather. More than a dozen trains traveling from Delhi to Bhopal, Indore, and Ujjain are running 5 to 8 hours behind schedule. The Malwa Express has been delayed by 4 to 5 hours daily, while premium services like Shatabdi and Sachkhand have also faced significant disruptions.
Cold weather breaking record
The cold wave has pushed temperatures to record-breaking lows across the state. Pachmarhi, the state’s only hill station, recorded the coldest temperature at 4.2 degrees Celsius. Kalyanpur in Shahdol came close with 4.6 degrees. Among major cities, Bhopal registered 7.4 degrees, while Indore saw the mercury drop to 6.4 degrees. Gwalior recorded 8.5 degrees, Ujjain 9.8 degrees, and Jabalpur 8.9 degrees.
This winter has shattered historical records set decades ago. Bhopal experienced a cold wave for 15 consecutive days in November, the longest stretch since 1931. The mercury plummeted to 5.2 degrees on November 17, breaking the previous record of 6.1 degrees set on November 30, 1941. Indore saw its coldest night in 25 years, with temperatures matching December’s lowest recorded levels.
The Meteorological Department explained that December and January are traditionally the coldest months for the region. Just as two of the four monsoon months bring 60 percent or more of annual rainfall, these two winter months bring the most intense cold. Northern winds flowing from the Himalayan region, intensified by snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, are driving temperatures down across Madhya Pradesh.
Western disturbances have also played a significant role this season. These weather systems activate frequently in December, causing additional temperature drops during both day and night. The phenomena also trigger Mavtha, a period of overcast skies that intensifies the cold’s impact during daytime hours.
Fog Affects multiple districts
The fog affects multiple districts daily, particularly between 6 am and 8 am. Dense fog blankets Gwalior, Morena, Bhind, Datia, Niwari, Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur, Panna, Satna, Rewa, Maihar, Mauganj, Sidhi, Singrauli, and Shahdol. Moderate fog has also spread to Bhopal, Indore, Ujjain, Shajapur, Dewas, Rajgarh, Raisen, and Vidisha.
The Gwalior and Chambal divisions face the most severe conditions, with snowy winds arriving directly from the north. The Ujjain division also experiences intense cold and heavy fog. Sagar and Rewa divisions report similar difficulties. Within Bhopal division, Sehore, Raisen, Rajgarh, and Vidisha are experiencing particularly strong cold, with Rajgarh’s temperature dropping to just 4 degrees.
Forecasters predict the fog’s intensity will decrease slightly over the next two days, but the cold will continue to strengthen its grip on the region.
Temperature Records
| City | Temperature (°C) | Weather Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Pachmarhi | 4.2 | Coldest in state |
| Kalyanpur | 4.6 | Severe cold |
| Mandsaur | 5.7 | Severe cold |
| Rewa | 6.0 | Dense fog |
| Khajuraho | 6.0 | Dense fog |
| Umaria | 6.0 | Dense fog |
| Indore | 6.4 | Cold wave |
| Bhopal | 7.4 | Moderate fog |
| Gwalior | 8.5 | Dense fog |
| Jabalpur | 8.9 | Cold conditions |
| Ujjain | 9.8 | Moderate fog |
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