According to the IMD’s Bhopal office, the incoming western disturbance, coupled with active jet stream winds, will trigger rainfall and isolated hailstorms in several districts. Before the onset of rain, dense fog has already gripped nearly half of the state, disrupting visibility and intensifying cold conditions.
On Friday morning, light to moderate fog was reported in at least 24 districts spanning the Bhopal, Gwalior, Chambal, Sagar, Jabalpur, Rewa, and Shahdol divisions. Areas affected included Gwalior, Rewa, Shahdol, Sagar, Guna, Shivpuri, Ashoknagar, Rajgarh, Vidisha, Datia, Morena, Bhind, Sheopur, Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur, Damoh, Panna, Katni, Satna, Sidhi, and Singrauli, among others. In many places, visibility remained poor until late morning.
Weather scientist Arun Sharma said the foggy conditions would persist until the rain begins. “The western disturbance will remain active over the region from January 31 to February 2, bringing rain and, in some pockets, hail. Fog is likely to continue in the early hours before the system fully impacts the state,” he said.
The IMD’s district-wise forecast indicates rain on January 31 in parts of the Gwalior-Chambal and Sagar regions, including Gwalior, Morena, Datia, Bhind, Shivpuri, Ashoknagar, Guna, Vidisha, and Chhatarpur. On February 1, rainfall is expected to spread further to Neemuch, Mandsaur, Agar-Malwa, Rajgarh, Shajapur, Sehore, Bhopal, Raisen, Satna, and Rewa. By February 2, showers are likely across central and western Madhya Pradesh, covering Bhopal, Indore, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Narmadapuram, Dewas, Khandwa, Burhanpur, Dhar, Katni, Umaria, Shahdol, Sidhi, and Singrauli.
The changing weather is linked to heavy snowfall and rain in the western Himalayan region, including Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu and Kashmir, which has altered atmospheric circulation patterns. Cold winds were already felt on Thursday, particularly in the Gwalior-Chambal belt, where daytime temperatures dropped sharply.
After the system passes, the IMD has warned of a renewed spell of cold weather. Both day and night temperatures are expected to fall again, intensifying winter conditions across the state.
