Dense fog and freezing cold grip Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh is experiencing severe cold and dense fog as New Year celebrations approach. On Tuesday morning, thick fog blanketed many districts, reducing visibility to 20 meters in Gwalior-Chambal, Ujjain, Sagar, and Rewa divisions. In Sendhwa, Barwani district, visibility dropped to less than a meter, making navigation difficult. Raisen witnessed frozen dew on trees, signalling the cold.

Severe cold wave and fog alerts

The Meteorological Department has issued a cold day alert for Ujjain and Ratlam and a cold wave warning for Shajapur, Neemuch, Mandsaur, and Agar-Malwa. The weather has turned harsh after two days of rain and hail from a western disturbance. Once the rains stopped, temperatures plummeted, with daytime and nighttime readings dropping significantly across the state.

Tikamgarh recorded the coldest day on Monday with a maximum temperature of 18°C, followed by Naugaon at 18.5°C and Gwalior at 19°C. Bhopal’s daytime maximum was 22.6°C, and the nighttime low was 10.4°C. Similar cold conditions were reported in Indore (13.2°C at night), Ujjain (11.5°C), and Gwalior (11.1°C).

These low temperatures have persisted for weeks. December 2024 has set records for being colder than January in several parts of the state.

December has been harsh this year. Bhopal recorded its coldest December in 58 years, with nine-day cold wave conditions. In Raisen, frozen dew was spotted on plants, reflecting low temperatures. Across Madhya Pradesh, the chill has forced changes in school schedules and other adjustments.

In Indore, December nighttime temperatures typically range from 5°C to 8°C, but this year saw colder nights. The lowest December temperature in Indore was 1.1°C, recorded in 1936.

3-day weather outlook

Thick fog has become a major challenge in several areas. In Sendhwa, drivers struggled to navigate highways due to near-zero visibility. Many vehicles had headlights on during the day. In Mandla, heavy fog persisted until late morning, while Dindori saw visibility drop below 50 meters as temperatures hit 7°C.

• December 31: Fog will affect Gwalior, Morena, Bhind, Datia, Shivpuri, and Guna. Cold day conditions will prevail in Ujjain and Ratlam.

• January 1: Light to moderate fog is expected in many districts, along with cold day and cold wave alerts.

• January 2: Similar weather will continue, with dense fog in parts of northern Madhya Pradesh.

The bitter cold has prompted precautionary measures. Wildlife parks in Bhopal have installed heaters for animals, and heaters have been provided at schools and public spaces. With the state experiencing one of its coldest winters in years, residents are bundling up for the New Year amidst freezing conditions.

The chill is expected to last into January, making it a challenging start to 2024.

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