Cold wave hits Madhya Pradesh: fog, falling temperatures, & rain ahead

Madhya Pradesh is currently facing a severe cold wave, with dense fog, chilling winds, and plummeting temperatures affecting daily life. The Meteorological Department predicted light rain in some districts from January 12, intensifying the cold conditions.

On Monday morning, visibility dropped to 20 meters in Mauganj, creating hazardous road conditions. In Bhind, heavy fog led to a tragic accident when a tractor collided with a tree, resulting in the death of the driver, Rinku Yadav. Poor visibility affected travel and outdoor activities in other districts.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast light rain in parts of the state, including Rewa, Bhopal, and Gwalior, starting January 12. This is due to a Western disturbance expected to become active in north-west India on January 10.

Night temperatures have dropped below 10°C in many cities. Jabalpur recorded the lowest temperature among major cities at 8°C, while Mandla was the coldest in the state at 4°C. Bhopal and Gwalior recorded 9.6°C and 9.2°C, respectively.

Weather trends

• January 6 & 7: Moderate to dense fog in Gwalior, Morena, Bhind, Rewa, and Tikamgarh.

• January 8: Fog is expected to clear, but colder winds will intensify the chill.

Cold northern winds from Jammu, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand are sweeping into MP, making conditions harsher. On Sunday, jet streams at 12.6 km blew at 240 km/h, adding to the freezing conditions.

Extreme cold has disrupted education in several districts. Schools up to Class 8 in Gwalior and Morena are closed, while other areas like Bhind have adjusted school timings for colder mornings.

Madhya Pradesh has a history of extreme January weather. 

Bhopal: Temperature drops to 0.6°C in January

Bhopal recorded its coldest January night at 0.6°C on 18 January 1935. Day temperatures have reached as high as 33°C on 26 January 2009. The city experiences occasional rain, with 7 out of the last 10 years witnessing rainfall. The heaviest 24-hour rainfall was 2 inches on 6 January 2004, while the wettest January saw 3.8 inches of rain in 1948.

Indore: Record low of -1.1°C in January

Indore’s all-time lowest temperature was recorded at -1.1°C on 16 January 1935, while the highest day temperature in January reached 33.9°C on 27 January 1990. Rainfall has also been significant, with 3 inches recorded in 24 hours on 6 January 1920. The wettest January was in 1920, with a total of 4 inches of rain.

Jabalpur: Record low of 1.1°C

Jabalpur’s coldest January night was 1.1°C on 7 January 1946, with the highest day temperature recorded at 33.4°C on 7 January 1973. The city has also experienced heavy rain, with 2.5 inches recorded in 24 hours on 24 January 1919. January 1919 remains the wettest, with over 8 inches of rain.

Gwalior: Coldest region due to Northern winds

Gwalior’s January temperatures are heavily influenced by cold northern winds. The coldest night was -1.1°C on 24 January 1954. More recently, it recorded 1.9°C in 2018 and 2.4°C in 2019. Rain is also common, with 9 rainy Januaries in the last decade. The heaviest rainfall was 2.1 inches in 24 hours on 8 January 1926, while January 1948 saw 3.1 inches of rain.

Ujjain: Mercury reaches 0°C

Ujjain’s lowest recorded January temperature was 0°C on 22 January 1962. Over the past decade, temperatures have ranged from 2°C to 5.8°C. The city experienced 1.25 inches of rain in a single day on 11 January 1987, while the wettest January recorded 2.2 inches of rain in 1994.

As cold wave conditions will last for 20–22 days, residents should take precautions against freezing temperatures and foggy mornings. With rain ahead, the cold spell is likely to continue into January.

Support us to keep independent environmental journalism alive in India.

Keep Reading

Watch: Kashmir experiences first snowfall of season after dry spell

Amarnath Yatra: Tackling rising death toll from extreme weather events

Tourists arrival in Kashmir break records, a need to regulate it?

From tourist paradise to waste wasteland: Sindh River Cry for help

Follow Ground Report on X, Instagram and Facebook for environmental and underreported stories from the margins. Give us feedback on our email id [email protected]. 

Don't forget to Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, Join our community on WhatsApp, and Follow our YouTube Channel for video stories.