Kalyanpur, Naugaon-Khajuraho hit record cold in MP:December 25-year low record breaks; freezing weather to persist in new year

Madhya Pradesh witnessed unprecedented cold conditions during November and December this year, with several long-standing temperature records being broken. November recorded the coldest temperatures in 84 years, while December shattered a 25-year-old record. The Meteorological Department has now warned that January is likely to see similarly severe cold conditions. According to weather experts, sub-zero temperatures have already been recorded in parts of the state this January. Intense cold waves, dense fog and extremely low night temperatures are expected to persist in the coming days. Severe cold on New Year’s eve The last night of the year was marked by intense cold across the state. Kalyanpur, Naugaon and Khajuraho emerged as the three coldest locations. Despite the biting cold, New Year celebrations continued across cities. On Thursday, the first day of the new year, the impact of cold waves and fog was clearly visible. Dense fog affected several districts including Gwalior, Bhind, Morena, Datia, Niwari, Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur, Panna, Satna, Rewa, Mauganj, Sidhi, Singrauli, Maihar, Umaria and Shahdol, along with Indore, Bhopal, Shajapur, Sehore, Raisen, Vidisha, Mandla and Dindori. Why has the cold intensified? Meteorologists attribute the sharp drop in temperatures to snowfall in the hilly states and increased Western Disturbance activity. Apart from dense morning fog, conditions such as cold waves, cold days and extreme cold are prevailing across the state. On Wednesday, the jet stream — a fast-moving river of cold and warm air in the upper atmosphere — recorded speeds of up to 278 kmph. This has significantly lowered night temperatures across Madhya Pradesh. The jet stream is expected to remain active on Thursday as well. What Is a Jet Stream? According to weather experts, the jet stream plays a crucial role in intensifying cold conditions. It is a narrow band of strong winds flowing at an altitude of about 12.6 kilometres above the Earth’s surface. This season, wind speeds have reached nearly 285 kmph, especially over northern India. When icy winds from the Himalayan region combine with cold air from the northern plains, the cold intensifies further. This phenomenon is linked to Western Disturbances affecting North India. When jet streams are also active, the severity of the cold effectively doubles — a situation currently being observed. Trains affected due to fog Severe cold and dense fog have begun to disrupt daily life across the state. On Wednesday, several trains arriving from Delhi were delayed. Dense fog was reported in Datia and Gwalior during the morning hours, with visibility dropping to as low as 50 metres. Foggy conditions were also reported from Naugaon, Satna, Sidhi, Bhopal, Indore, Ratlam, Ujjain, Khajuraho, Mandla, Guna, Khargone, Rajgarh and Damoh. Lowest temperatures recorded Kalyanpur remained the coldest location with a temperature of 3.2°C. Khajuraho recorded 4.2°C, Naugaon 4.4°C, Umaria 5.2°C, Rewa 5.4°C and Pachmarhi 5.6°C. Among major cities, Indore was the coldest at 7.2°C, followed by Jabalpur at 8.2°C, Bhopal at 9°C and Ujjain at 9.8°C. Temperatures remained below 10°C in around 25 cities. Previously, Kalyanpur in Shahdol district had recorded a low of 1.7°C. December also broke cold records The Meteorological Department confirmed that December also saw unusually intense cold conditions. Bhopal broke an 84-year-old November cold record, while Indore experienced its coldest December in 25 years. Additionally, Indore’s 10-year December cold record was also surpassed. December–January: Peak winter months Just as July and August account for over 60 percent of monsoon rainfall, December and January are considered the peak winter months. During this period, cold winds from North India frequently reach Madhya Pradesh, leading to sharp temperature drops. Data from the past decade shows a consistent trend of severe cold during these months. Active Western Disturbances also bring winter rainfall in December, further increasing daytime chill. January cold records in major cities (At a glance) Bhopal Indore Jabalpur Gwalior Ujjain