A severe cold weather has gripped Madhya Pradesh, with temperatures dropping below 5 degrees Celsius in several cities across the Malwa-Nimar region. Dense fog has simultaneously paralyzed transportation networks, delaying trains by up to five hours and disrupting flight schedules across the state.
State Records Season’s Coldest Temperatures
Shahdol’s Kalyanpur emerged as the coldest spot in the state, recording a bone-chilling 3.5 degrees Celsius on the night of December 17-18. The state capital Bhopal registered 5.4 degrees, while the commercial hub Indore saw the mercury dip to 4.5 degrees. Ujjain recorded 7.3 degrees, with Gwalior and Jabalpur relatively warmer at 9.3 and 9.2 degrees respectively.
The cold snap has been particularly severe in the Indore and Ujjain divisions. Multiple cities in Malwa-Nimar, including Indore, Ujjain, Mandsaur, and Shajapur, have seen temperatures remain consistently below 5 degrees Celsius. This marks one of the coldest spells the region has witnessed in recent years.
Dense Fog Blankets Northern Districts
Dense fog has blanketed the northern parts of the state, severely affecting visibility in Gwalior-Chambal, Rewa, and Sagar divisions. On Friday morning, visibility dropped to just one kilometer in 13 districts, creating hazardous conditions for commuters.
The weather department has issued a dense fog alert for Friday covering Gwalior, Morena, Bhind, Datia, Niwari, Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur, Panna, Satna, Rewa, Mauganj, Sidhi, and Singrauli. Additional fog warnings have been issued for Bhopal, Shajapur, Indore, Ujjain, Rajgarh, Dewas, Sehore, Raisen, and Vidisha, where visibility could range between one to four kilometers.
Transportation Networks Face Major Disruptions
Transportation networks have borne the brunt of the fog. Major trains connecting Delhi to Indore and Bhopal are running 30 minutes to five hours behind schedule. On Thursday alone, several key services including Punjab Mail, Shatabdi, Jhelum Express, Sachkhand, Malwa, Chhattisgarh, Kolhapur SF, and Mangala Lakshadweep Express faced significant delays. Trains arriving at Gwalior, Jabalpur, and Ujjain stations were similarly affected, with disruptions continuing into Friday morning.
Air travel has not escaped unscathed. Flights departing from Bhopal’s Raja Bhoj airport to Delhi, Mumbai, Goa, and Bengaluru experienced delays ranging from 20 minutes to an hour on Thursday due to poor visibility conditions.
Jet Stream and La Niña Intensify Cold Wave
Weather experts attribute the intense cold to multiple factors. A powerful jet stream, currently flowing at 195 kilometers per hour at an altitude of 12 kilometers, has intensified conditions. The jet stream reached speeds of 222 kilometers per hour earlier this week, significantly amplifying the cold wave.
DP Dubey, retired director of the Bhopal Meteorological Centre, explained that La Niña conditions in the Pacific Ocean have pushed cold air masses toward Asia and India. He noted that early snowfall in Himachal, Uttarakhand, and Kashmir has increased the coolness affecting central India by 20 to 30 percent. Cold winds have also penetrated 20 to 25 percent deeper into major weather zones this year.
Safety Advisories Issued for Public
The meteorological department has issued comprehensive advisories for public safety. Authorities recommend that travelers drive cautiously using fog lights during low visibility conditions. Health officials advise residents to cover their heads, necks, fingers, and toes to maintain body warmth, and to consume fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C.
Farmers have been advised to sow wheat, gram, mustard, and pea crops where soil moisture is adequate, while avoiding burning crop stubble.
This cold wave follows record-breaking temperatures in November, when Bhopal experienced its coldest stretch since 1931. According to weather experts, the cold wave could persist for 20 to 22 days in January, with December and January traditionally being the coldest months in the region.
Temperature and Weather Forecast
| City | Temperature (°C) | Weather Forecast |
|---|---|---|
| Kalyanpur (Shahdol) | 3.5 | Continued cold wave |
| Indore | 4.5 | Fog, below 5°C expected |
| Bhopal | 5.4 | Fog, cold wave continues |
| Ujjain | 7.3 | Fog, temperatures below 5°C |
| Jabalpur | 9.2 | Moderate cold |
| Gwalior | 9.3 | Dense fog alert |
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