A sharp and persistent winter spell continues to hold Madhya Pradesh in its grip, with the Meteorological Department warning that cold conditions and dense fog are likely to prevail for the next few days. The state woke up to severely reduced visibility and plunging temperatures on Sunday, a trend expected to continue, especially during the early morning hours.
Widespread Fog and Plummeting Temperatures
On Sunday, dense fog and cold wave conditions led to a significant drop in temperatures across Madhya Pradesh. Several major cities, including Bhopal, Indore, and Ujjain, remained enveloped in a thick blanket of fog until late morning, with visibility dropping to as low as around 50 metres. This severely disrupted both road and rail movement. The district of Chhatarpur witnessed the most extreme conditions, with Nowgong recording the state's lowest temperature at a mere 2.5 degrees Celsius.
District-Wise Forecast and Meteorological Causes
The Met department has issued specific forecasts for Monday. Dense fog is very likely in Gwalior, Datia, Niwari, Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur, Panna, Satna, Rewa, and Mauganj districts. Meanwhile, moderate fog is expected to affect a wider swath, including Bhopal, Indore, Sheopur, Shivpuri, Vidisha, Guna, Ashok Nagar, Rajgarh, Agar Malwa, Shajapur, Dewas, Ujjain, Sehore, Raisen, Sagar, Damoh, Katni, Umaria, Maihar, Shahdol, and Sidhi.
Meteorologists explain this sudden intensification of cold is due to the influence of strong jet stream winds blowing over northwest India at an altitude of about 12.6 km, with speeds touching around 278 kmph. This weather system has increased moisture levels, leading to the widespread fog formation and a noticeable dip in daytime temperatures.
Recorded Lows and Impact Across Cities
Cold day conditions were officially recorded in several areas including Bhopal, Datia, Khandwa, Ratlam, and Tikamgarh. Night temperatures fell sharply across northern and central parts of the state. In a dramatic shift, the mercury in Nowgong plunged by 8.3 degrees in a single night. Other notable minimum temperatures included Rajgarh at 5°C, Datia at 5.1°C, Pachmarhi at 6.4°C, and Shivpuri at 7°C.
Among the major urban centers, Gwalior was the coldest at 6.4 degrees Celsius. It was followed by Bhopal (10.8°C), Indore (11.8°C), Ujjain (11.4°C), and Jabalpur (11°C). Residents are advised to take necessary precautions against the cold and exercise extreme caution while traveling due to the persistent low visibility caused by fog.
