Mercury drops below 22°C for first time in February in Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh is experiencing a new cold wave due to North India snowfall. On Thursday, strong winds blew at 34 to 36 km/h in several cities, including Indore, which is 3-4 times higher than usual. For the first time in February, the daytime temperature dropped below 22°C, affecting Bhopal, Indore, Ujjain, Gwalior, and Jabalpur.

Weather conditions and forecast

The Meteorological Department predicts similar conditions on Friday, with a slight increase of 2-3°C expected on Saturday. Meteorologist V.S. Yadav said the wind direction changed to northern on Wednesday, increasing wind speed due to snowfall in North India.

On Thursday, Bhopal experienced winds at 18-20 km/h, while Indore airport reached 34-35 km/h. Normally, the wind speed is 6-8 km/h. The high wind speed will persist on Friday, keeping the chill in the air.

The icy winds caused a significant drop in temperatures across the state. Below are the daytime temperatures in various cities on Thursday:

Night temperatures in some cities fell below 10°C.

Upcoming weather changes

A new weather system is expected to form on February 8, with noticeable effects after February 10. Meteorologists say a Western Disturbance could change the state’s weather, leading to a rise in daytime and nighttime temperatures.

In the last decade, February in Madhya Pradesh has shown cold nights, hot days, and occasional rainfall. Based on trends, major cities like Bhopal, Indore, and Ujjain could see maximum temperatures above 30°C, while night temperatures may range between 10-14°C.

Gwalior is typically the coldest city in February. Last year, its minimum temperature dropped to 6.1°C. Jabalpur has warm days and cold nights.

The state experienced severe cold for two months (November and December). Bhopal’s November broke a 36-year-old record, with temperatures dropping significantly below normal. Indore, Ujjain, Jabalpur, and Gwalior also recorded temperatures 7°C below average.

December was colder than January statewide. A nine-day cold wave led to school schedule changes in Bhopal, Indore, and Gwalior. Bhopal’s Van Vihar National Park installed heaters to protect animals from the cold.

January had moderate cold spells and three light rain instances. However, the Western Disturbance was not strong enough to bring heavy rainfall or hail, typical for January.

February weather trends in five major cities

Bhopal’s night temperature dropped to 1.7°C (1950) and the highest February temperature was 37.6°C (2006). Indore recorded its coldest February night at 2.8°C in 1929, and its highest temperature was 37.9°C in 2006.

Gwalior frequently experiences extreme cold, with temperatures dropping to 1.9°C in 2018, 2.4°C in 2019, and 2.3°C in 2023. The coldest recorded night was 0.3°C in 1974.

Jabalpur’s lowest recorded temperature was 0°C in 1905, and its hottest February day was 37.6°C in 1966. The city recorded over five inches of rain in a single day (1987).

Ujjain, known for unpredictable February weather, saw a record low of 1°C in 2008 and a highest temperature of 39°C.

Madhya Pradesh is experiencing an unusual cold spell, with temperatures dropping below 22°C for the first time in February. While strong winds continue, meteorologists predict a gradual increase in temperature after February 10 due to Western Disturbance. The state’s historical February weather indicates fluctuating temperatures, occasional rainfall, and extreme cold in certain cities.

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