Madhya Pradesh is experiencing cold weather in decades as temperatures plummeted to a bone-chilling 2 degrees Celsius in multiple districts on Wednesday. Dense fog has blanketed more than half the state, forcing authorities to close schools and issue cold wave alerts across nine districts.
Record-Breaking Temperatures Hit Multiple Cities
The mercury dropped to record lows in Rajgarh, where the temperature hit 2 degrees Celsius, while Chhindwara’s regional research center at Chandangaon recorded 2.2 degrees Celsius. Bhopal broke its 10-year cold record as temperatures fell to 3.8 degrees Celsius, the lowest reading since 2015.
The intense cold has transformed the landscape dramatically. In Chhindwara, dewdrops froze on trees and plants, creating ice formations rarely seen in the region. Similar conditions appeared in Damoh, where morning dew crystallized on crops. Residents in Sehore watched as moisture froze on plant leaves as temperatures touched 3.9 degrees Celsius for the third time this season.
Dense fog has severely reduced visibility across major cities. Guna reported visibility dropping to just 20 meters, while Damoh experienced similar conditions at 30 meters. The fog disrupted rail traffic significantly, with trains from Delhi including the Malwa and Sachkhand Express delayed by up to six hours.
Cold Wave Alerts Issued for Nine Districts
The weather department has issued cold wave alerts for Bhopal, Sehore, Rajgarh and Shajapur. Cold wave conditions have already affected Shajapur, Shahdol, Seoni, Mandsaur and Sehore. Intense cold wave persists in Bhopal and Rajgarh, while cold day conditions continue in Bhopal, Vidisha, Sehore, Shajapur and Narsinghpur.
Educational institutions have borne the brunt of the extreme weather. Schools in Indore, Raisen, Gwalior and Narmadapuram remained closed on Wednesday. Collector Sanjay Kumar Jain declared holidays for schools from nursery to eighth grade in Mauganj until January 9. In Dhar, Collector Priyank Mishra announced a day off for classes from nursery to eighth standard.
Many schools in Bhopal, Dhar, Sehore, Anuppur, Barwani, Morena and Khargone will open only after 9 am to protect children from the morning cold. Districts including Indore, Ujjain, Mandsaur, Shajapur, Vidisha, Ashoknagar, Agar-Malwa, Bhind, Tikamgarh, Harda, Neemuch, Ratlam, Rajgarh, Mandla, Jabalpur, Damoh, Dindouri, Narmadapuram, Jhabua, Chhatarpur, Sidhi and Betul have announced school closures.
The cold has affected daily life across the state. In Chhindwara, residents gather around bonfires after 6 pm and early morning to keep warm. Farmers in Morena worry about crop damage as temperatures hover dangerously close to the critical 5-degree mark.
The daytime offers little relief. Datia recorded the state’s lowest maximum temperature at 17.6 degrees Celsius on Tuesday. Sheopur reached 18.2 degrees while Bhopal managed only 21.8 degrees, creating cold day conditions throughout the region.
Temperature Records Across Madhya Pradesh
| City | Minimum Temperature (°C) | Maximum Temperature (°C) | Weather Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rajgarh | 2.0 | — | Cold wave, dense fog |
| Chhindwara | 2.2 | — | Severe cold, frozen dew |
| Kalyanpur (Shahdol) | 2.8 | — | Cold wave |
| Shajapur | 3.7 | — | Cold wave alert |
| Bhopal | 3.8 | 21.8 | Dense fog, 10-year record broken |
| Mandsaur | 3.8 | — | Cold wave |
| Sehore | 3.9 | — | Cold wave alert, frozen dew |
| Rewa | 4.0 | 20.6 | Dense fog |
| Mauganj | 4.2 | — | Dense fog warning |
| Khajuraho | 4.4 | 20.4 | Dense fog |
| Umaria | 4.6 | — | Cold conditions |
| Mandla | 4.9 | — | Dense fog |
| Damoh | 5.6 | 21.8 | Dense fog, frozen dew |
| Morena | 6.0 | — | Cold winds |
| Gwalior | 7.3 | 18.9 | Dense fog |
| Tikamgarh | 7.0 | 20.6 | Dense fog |
| Ujjain | 7.8 | — | Dense fog |
| Jabalpur | 7.8 | — | Dense fog |
| Indore | 8.6 | — | Dense fog |
| Datia | — | 17.6 | Dense fog, lowest daytime |
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