Bhopal, January 4 – The cold wave continues to wreak havoc across Madhya Pradesh, with dense fog enveloping 12 districts in the Gwalior, Chambal, and Rewa divisions on Saturday. Another 11 districts reported moderate fog, with visibility in several areas dropping below 100 meters, making travel challenging. Night temperatures have also witnessed a sharp dip. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the cold conditions and fog are likely to persist for the next two days, after which a brief relief is expected.
Weather Outlook for the Coming Days
Meteorologists predict that the dense fog will start to dissipate by January 6-7, leading to a rise in both day and night temperatures. However, after a brief period of stability, cold conditions are expected to return as cold winds from Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Ladakh bring icy chills to the region. Currently, a jet stream at an altitude of 12.6 km is flowing at a speed of 222 kmph, contributing to the current cold spell. Experts warn that as the snow begins to melt in northern regions, wind speeds will increase, further intensifying the chill in Madhya Pradesh. Consequently, the state is expected to remain cold throughout January, with 20-22 days of cold wave conditions anticipated.
Dense Fog Disrupts Visibility Across Districts
On Saturday, dense fog was reported in Gwalior, Sheopur, Morena, Bhind, Datia, Chhatarpur, Panna, Satna, Rewa, Mauganj, Sidhi, and Singrauli, where visibility dropped to as low as 50 meters in several places. Meanwhile, Neemuch, Mandsaur, Agar-Malwa, Rajgarh, Guna, Ashoknagar, Shivpuri, Niwar, Tikamgarh, Jabalpur, and Maihar experienced moderate to dense fog.
The IMD forecasts that on January 5, moderate to dense fog will persist in districts such as Gwalior, Sheopur, Morena, Bhind, Datia, Niwar, Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur, Panna, Satna, Rewa, Mauganj, Sidhi, and Singrauli. Similarly, some districts are likely to experience foggy conditions on January 6, while night temperatures are expected to remain low.
Minimum Temperatures Dip Below 10°C Across the State
Night temperatures across most parts of Madhya Pradesh have dipped below 10°C, with Mandla and Shahdol’s Kalyanpur recording the lowest temperature of 4.3°C. Other notable minimum temperatures include:
- Naugaon: 4.4°C
- Pachmarhi: 4.6°C
- Shajapur’s Girwar: 4.6°C
- Ashoknagar’s Anwari: 5.5°C
- Neemuch’s Marukheda: 6.3°C
- Rewa-Umaria: 6.4°C
- Balaghat’s Malajkhand: 6.8°C
- Raisen: 7.6°C
- Satna-Tikamgarh: 7.8°C
- Khajuraho: 8.2°C
- Chhindwara-Sidhi: 8.6°C
- Khandwa: 9.0°C
- Betul-Ratlam: 9.2°C
- Guna-Seoni: 9.4°C
- Damoh: 9.5°C
Day Temperatures Witness Marginal Increase
Despite the chilly nights, a slight rise in day temperatures was observed on Friday across major cities, including Bhopal, Indore, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Ujjain, Shivpuri, Ratlam, and Dhar, where the mercury climbed by 1°C to 5.5°C. Notably, Indore, Ujjain, and Ratlam recorded a high of 30°C, offering temporary respite during the daytime.
However, cooler conditions prevailed in Sidhi, Rewa, Khajuraho, Narsinghpur, Naugaon, Satna, and Malajkhand, where day temperatures remained below 25°C.
Advisory for Residents
With the continuation of dense fog and cold weather in the coming days, residents are advised to take necessary precautions:
- Travel with Caution: Reduced visibility due to dense fog can pose risks to commuters. Avoid unnecessary travel during early mornings and late nights.
- Stay Warm: Ensure adequate clothing, especially for children and the elderly, to prevent cold-related illnesses.
- Monitor Weather Updates: Stay informed about changing weather conditions by following regular updates from the IMD.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
