As festive celebrations reached their peak, Bhopal was gripped by an intense cold wave on Saturday, recording its lowest temperature of the season so far. The mercury plunged to a chilling 4.6 degrees Celsius, transforming the city into a colder zone than many parts of northern India.
Bhopal Outchills Northern Plains
In a significant weather anomaly, the capital of Madhya Pradesh found itself colder than major cities in the northern plains. Delhi recorded a minimum of 7 degrees Celsius, while Chandigarh saw 8.9 degrees Celsius. Even the hill station of Dehradun was warmer at 7 degrees Celsius. Bhopal's reading was only marginally higher than Shimla, where the temperature settled at 4.3 degrees Celsius.
However, the coldest spot in the state was Mandsaur district, which froze at 2.9 degrees Celsius. This sudden dip marked a dramatic shift from the past week, when Bhopal's nights were comparatively milder, hovering between 8 and 10 degrees Celsius.
Records Under Threat as Cold Wave Intensifies
The biting cold on Saturday shattered the previous season's low of 4.8 degrees Celsius recorded on December 16. It also overshadowed the November 17 reading of 5.2 degrees Celsius. The regional meteorological office has issued a fresh cold wave alert for Bhopal and other parts of the state, warning residents as they head into the New Year.
There is a possibility that the record low of 3.3 degrees Celsius from December last year could be challenged if the current cold wave persists. The daytime temperature on Saturday was also below normal at 23.5 degrees Celsius, two degrees lower than average.
Dense Fog and Widespread Alert
Adding to the winter misery, dense fog enveloped Bhopal, reducing visibility to just 1-2 kilometers. The Met department has forecast clear skies for Sunday once the morning fog dissipates, with expected temperatures of 24 degrees (day) and 6 degrees (night).
Official cold wave conditions were declared in several districts including Mandsaur, Bhopal, Rajgarh, and Indore. A formal cold wave warning is now in place for Bhopal, Sehore, Rajgarh, Indore, Shajapur, Mandsaur, Anuppur, Shahdol, and Seoni. Dense fog alerts have also been issued for Singrauli, Sidhi, Rewa, and Satna districts.
The severe cold has forced residents to seek warmth around bonfires and bundle up in heavy blankets, casting a frosty shadow over the year-end festive spirit.
