Residents of Madhya Pradesh need to pull out their winter woollens as the state is set to experience a significant dip in temperatures starting this weekend. Meteorological officials announced on Friday that a fresh bout of cold weather is expected to grip the region.
Gradual Chill and Widespread Fog Forecast
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted a gradual fall in mercury levels across the state from Saturday, January 3rd. While no major change is anticipated in the next 24 hours, a drop of 2 to 3 degrees Celsius is expected thereafter, intensifying winter conditions in several parts.
Accompanying the cold will be reduced visibility due to fog. The Met department has issued a warning for dense to moderate fog in at least 22 districts on January 3rd. The affected districts include Gwalior, Sheopur, Morena, Bhind, Shivpuri, Datia, Niwari, Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur, Panna, Damoh, Satna, Maihar, Rewa, Mauganj, Shahdol, Umaria, Anuppur, Sidhi, Singrauli, Dindori, and Jabalpur.
The state capital, Bhopal, is also likely to witness shallow to moderate fog during the morning hours on Saturday.
Current Weather Trends and Regional Variations
The cooling trend has already begun in some areas. On Friday, Bhopal recorded a maximum temperature of 23.8 degrees Celsius, which is 1.7 degrees lower than the previous day's 25.5 degrees. The minimum temperature, however, remained steady.
Officials reported dry weather across all divisions of Madhya Pradesh in the last 24 hours, with a cold day condition prevailing in Datia district. A region-wise analysis reveals a sharp fall in maximum temperatures, particularly in the Chambal division where it dropped by up to 4.2 degrees Celsius. The Gwalior and Sagar divisions also saw appreciable decreases of 2.2 to 2.5 degrees.
Compared to seasonal averages, maximum temperatures were below normal by 2.6 degrees in Chambal. In contrast, they remained above normal by 2.1 to 2.3 degrees in the Bhopal, Jabalpur, and Shahdol divisions.
Mixed Pattern in Night Temperatures
The behaviour of minimum temperatures presented a varied picture across the state. While the day is getting cooler, nights warmed up appreciably in some regions. The Ujjain and Jabalpur divisions saw a rise of 2.2 to 2.6 degrees, and the Shahdol division recorded a marked increase of 4.4 degrees in the minimum temperature.
As the new weather system sets in, authorities advise citizens, especially travellers, to exercise caution due to the anticipated fog and wrap up warmly against the impending chill.
