The residents of Bhopal and large parts of Madhya Pradesh woke up to another day of intense winter conditions, with a biting cold wave and dense morning fog severely impacting daily life. The regional meteorological office has indicated that there is no immediate relief in sight from this chilling spell.
Mercury Takes a Deep Dive Across the State
On Saturday, Bhopal recorded a maximum day temperature of 25.3 degrees Celsius, which is one degree below the normal average. More strikingly, the night temperature plummeted to a low of 6.2 degrees Celsius, marking a significant drop of four degrees below the normal mark. The title for the coldest place in the state was claimed by Shivpuri, where the mercury dipped to a frigid 4 degrees Celsius.
The cold wave's grip was particularly tight over districts like Shajapur and Shivpuri. Major urban centres, including Indore, were not spared, experiencing a bone-chilling cold. Visibility took a major hit in several regions due to fog, with Gwalior, Jabalpur, and Rewa reporting dense fog conditions. Shallower fog was recorded in Datia, Sagar, Satna, and Chhatarpur.
Weather Systems Behind the Persistent Chill
The Met department has attributed the prevailing conditions to specific atmospheric disturbances. A western disturbance over Jammu and nearby areas has developed into a cyclonic circulation, situated approximately 3.1 km above mean sea level. Simultaneously, another western disturbance in the form of a cyclonic circulation is lying over southwest Iran and its neighbourhood, extending up to 5.8 km above mean sea level.
Adding to this, a powerful subtropical westerly jet stream with core winds reaching up to 100 knots is prevailing over north India at an altitude of about 12.6 km. The combined influence of these systems is resulting in dry weather across all districts of Madhya Pradesh, allowing the cold to settle in.
Forecast and Warnings for the Coming Days
For Sunday, Bhopal is expected to see clear skies apart from the morning haze. The maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to be around 26 degrees Celsius and 7 degrees Celsius, respectively, with an average wind speed of 10 kmph.
However, the Met has issued crucial warnings for several districts. A dense fog alert has been sounded for Gwalior, Datia, Bhind, Sidhi, Rewa, and Chhatarpur. A similar haze is likely over Morena, Singrauli, Mauganj, Satna, Jabalpur, Panna, Tikamgarh, Niwari, and Maihar.
Moderate fog is forecast for Shivpuri, Anuppur, Shahdol, Umaria, Katni, Damoh, and Sagar. Furthermore, districts including Rajgarh, Indore, and Shajapur will continue to endure cold wave conditions, with temperatures remaining significantly below normal. Residents are advised to take necessary precautions while travelling early in the morning or late at night.
