Clear weather on Makar Sankranti across MP:Gwalior-Datia will remain cold; Western Disturbance likely to bring winter rain in northern districts

Makar Sankranti will be celebrated today under largely clear skies across Madhya Pradesh. According to the Meteorological Department, most parts of the state will witness bright sunshine during the day, including major cities such as Bhopal, Indore and Ujjain. While daytime conditions will remain pleasant, nights will continue to be cold. The impact of intense cold will be most pronounced in the Gwalior–Chambal region, as well as in the Sagar and Rewa divisions. Overall, the weather is expected to remain dry and stable, making conditions favourable for outdoor festivities. Foggy mornings in several districts On Wednesday morning, moderate fog was reported in districts including Gwalior, Bhind, Morena, Sheopur, Datia, Niwari, Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur, Panna and Satna. Visibility ranged between 2 and 4 kilometres in more than 15 districts, among them Bhopal, Indore, Ujjain, Jabalpur, Sehore, Shajapur and Dewas. Despite the morning fog, the weather is expected to clear as the day progresses. This will be especially welcome news for kite-flying enthusiasts, for whom Makar Sankranti holds special significance. Senior meteorologist Dr Divya E. Surendran confirmed that similar dry weather conditions are likely to prevail over the next four days. No cold wave or cold day alert The Meteorological Department has not issued any cold wave or cold day alert for any part of the state on Wednesday. This indicates that, despite low night-time temperatures, daytime conditions will not meet the criteria for a cold day. As a result, people across the state should be able to celebrate Makar Sankranti without major weather-related disruptions. In the Malwa–Nimar region, encompassing the Indore and Ujjain divisions, large-scale kite flying traditionally marks the festival. Clear weather is expected to ensure uninterrupted celebrations. Gwalior–Chambal remains the coldest region Cold northerly winds are directly affecting the northern parts of Madhya Pradesh, making them the coldest in the state. On Monday–Tuesday night, Gwalior recorded a minimum temperature of 6.5°C. Naogaon in Chhatarpur district recorded 5.5°C, Karaundi in Katni dropped to 4.7°C, and Chitrakoot in Satna registered 5.3°C. Foggy conditions in these areas also disrupted rail services, with several trains delayed by hours. In Pachmarhi, the state’s only hill station, the temperature fell to 5.8°C. Khajuraho recorded 6°C, Datia 6.2°C, Mandla and Rajgarh 6.4°C, and Rewa 6.5°C. Comparatively higher minimum temperatures were noted in Bhopal at 10.2°C, Indore at 9.5°C, Ujjain at 11°C, and Jabalpur at 9.5°C. Daytime temperatures in northern districts also remained subdued. On Tuesday, maximum temperatures were recorded at 24.3°C in Gwalior, 23.4°C in Datia and Khajuraho, and 23.2°C in Sheopur. Pachmarhi recorded a maximum of 21.8°C, while Rewa stood at 22.4°C. Western disturbance to bring possible rain A strong Western Disturbance is expected to become active over the Western Himalayan region from 15 January. The Meteorological Department has indicated that its impact may be felt in northern Madhya Pradesh after two to three days, raising the possibility of winter rainfall, locally known as ‘mawatha’. Dense fog has continued to affect rail operations, particularly on routes from Delhi to Bhopal, Indore and Ujjain. The Malwa Express has been the most affected, along with several others including Punjab Mail, Janshatabdi, Jhelum and Sachkhand Express. A Record-Breaking Winter This winter has been particularly severe in Madhya Pradesh. November witnessed the coldest conditions in 84 years, while December broke a 25-year record. January has followed a similar pattern, with intense cold, dense fog and occasional cold wave conditions. Bhopal has recorded its coldest January in a decade, underscoring the intensity of this winter spell. Why January brings severe cold ? According to meteorologists, December and January are the peak months for severe cold, much like July and August are crucial for the monsoon. During this period, cold winds from northern India frequently reach Madhya Pradesh, causing a sharp drop in temperatures. Western Disturbances often trigger winter rainfall in January, a trend observed in recent years. This year, cloud cover was present even on the first day of January, signalling an active winter pattern.