Madhya Pradesh braces for prolonged cold spell:Bhopal as cold as Shimla, Indore colder than Mussoorie; alert issued for 14 districts

Madhya Pradesh is experiencing unusually severe cold this November. Some cities are even colder than famous hill stations. Bhopal’s temperature is the same as Shimla, while Indore is colder than Mussoorie and Dehradun. A cold wave alert has been issued for 14 districts, including Bhopal and Indore. Northern winds and active Western Disturbances are causing a sharp drop in temperatures across the state. Cold wave alert in 14 districts On Tuesday, the Meteorological Department issued a cold wave alert for Bhopal, Indore, Rajgarh, Shajapur, Sehore, Dewas, Betul, Narmadapuram, Chhindwara, Mandla, Rewa, Mauganj, Maihar, and Shahdol. Bhopal, Indore, and Rajgarh are expected to face severe cold, while the other districts will see a cold wave. Balaghat is also expected to experience a significant drop in temperature. Meteorologist Arun Sharma explained that a Western Disturbance in the northern Himalayas is bringing northerly winds into Madhya Pradesh. This is intensifying the cold in the state. Record low temperatures in Shahdol and Rajgarh Northern districts are shivering as temperatures hit record lows. Kalyanpur in Shahdol was the coldest at 7.2°C, while Rajgarh recorded 7.6°C. Among major cities, Bhopal fell to 8.8°C, Indore 7.9°C, Gwalior 10.5°C, Ujjain 11°C, and Jabalpur 10.2°C. By comparison, Shimla recorded 8.8°C, Mussoorie 8.6°C, and Dehradun 11.7°C, making some Madhya Pradesh cities colder than these hill stations. Cold spreads across eastern and western MP The western part of the state faced severe cold over the past three days. Now, the eastern districts are also seeing lower temperatures: Other cities also saw low temperatures: Mandla 10.1°C, Guna-Shivpuri 11°C, Damoh-Satna 11.2°C, Sidhi 11.4°C, Tikamgarh 11.5°C, Datia 11.6°C, Ratlam 12°C, Dhar 12.1°C, Sagar 12.6°C, Khajuraho 13°C, Narsinghpur and Khargone-Narmadapuram 13.2°C. Pachmarhi recorded a comparatively higher temperature of 14.2°C. Snowfall in Himalayas affects MP Snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand is influencing Madhya Pradesh’s weather. This is particularly felt in the northern districts. As a result, temperatures have dropped to record lows in early November. Weather expert PK Shah said Western Disturbances in the Himalayas arrived a week earlier this year. This is why the cold arrived in Madhya Pradesh during the second week of November, earlier than usual. If the pattern continues, the cold spell may last 80 to 85 days, instead of the typical 75 days. November cold breaks 25-year record Severe cold has broken records in many cities. In Bhopal, November’s 10-year record was broken, with the mercury at 8°C, the lowest since 2015. Indore’s temperature dropped to 7°C, the coldest November in 25 years. The record for November cold in Indore remains 5.6°C in 1938. Cold even during the day The cold is affecting daytime temperatures too. On Monday, most cities recorded temperatures below 28°C. Daytime warmth from the sun can temporarily raise temperatures, but without sunshine, daytime temperatures are expected to fall further. Trend of rain and cold in November For the past 10 years, Madhya Pradesh has experienced rain along with cold in November. This year, October also saw above-average rainfall, 2.8 inches, which is 121% more than the normal 1.3 inches. The Meteorological Department predicts further cold in November. Northern winds will drop temperatures further, especially in Gwalior-Chambal division. Historic November records include 3°C in Gwalior 56 years ago and 2.3°C in Ujjain 52 years ago. Future weather forecast Bhopal, Indore, and Jabalpur have a history of November rain. This year, there may be rain in the first week, with further showers possible in the third and fourth weeks due to active systems.