The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a cold wave alert for Shahdol, Anuppur, Umaria, Katni and Maihar, warning residents of persistently harsh conditions over the next few days. Meteorologists said the cold spell is expected to continue for at least two to three days.
According to the IMD, snowfall in the Himalayan region has intensified cold air flow towards central India, leading to a significant drop in temperatures across Madhya Pradesh. Senior meteorologist Dr Divya E. Surendran said a new western disturbance is likely to become active over north-west India from January 19. “If the system strengthens, it may bring cloudy conditions and light rainfall in parts of Madhya Pradesh around January 20–21,” she said.
Several districts recorded unusually low night temperatures. Katni’s Karondi area reported 2.7°C, followed by Shajapur at 3.3°C and Shahdol’s Kalyanpur at 3.5°C. Hill station Pachmarhi registered 3.8°C, while Rajgarh recorded 4.5°C. Umaria, Mandla and Rewa hovered between 5.3°C and 5.8°C.
Major cities were not spared. Gwalior recorded 5.9°C, Bhopal 6°C, Indore 6.2°C and Ujjain 7.5°C, while Jabalpur saw a comparatively higher minimum of 8.8°C. Most other towns reported temperatures close to 10°C.
Dense to moderate fog affected parts of the Gwalior, Chambal, Sagar and Rewa divisions. Visibility dropped to as low as 50–200 metres in Rajgarh, while cities such as Bhopal, Gwalior, Indore and Ujjain reported visibility between one and two kilometres. The fog disrupted rail services, particularly trains operating between Delhi and cities like Bhopal, Indore and Ujjain. Trains including the Malwa Express, Jhelum Express and Sachkhand Express were delayed, along with several others.
Weather experts attributed the severity of the cold to strong jet stream winds blowing at an altitude of around 12.6 kilometres at speeds reaching 240 kmph, influencing weather patterns over north and central India.
January is typically the coldest month in Madhya Pradesh, with strong northern winds often triggering cold waves and dense fog. Officials have advised residents to take precautions, especially the elderly and children, as the cold spell shows no immediate signs of easing.
