Cold wave grips Madhya Pradesh:Bhopal, Indore among 10 coldest cities as mercury drops below 10°C; IMD issues alert for 20 cities

Madhya Pradesh is facing its first major cold wave of the season. Snowfall in the northern mountains has brought icy winds to the state. More than 10 districts recorded severe cold on Sunday, and a cold wave alert has been issued for 20 districts, including Bhopal, Indore, Ujjain, and Jabalpur. Several cities have broken temperature records, with mercury levels dropping below 10°C. Snowfall in the north triggers chill in MP Snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand has led to cold winds entering Madhya Pradesh directly from the north. As a result, northern districts of the state are experiencing a sharp fall in temperature. In the last two days, severe cold waves have hit Bhopal, Rajgarh, Sehore, Indore, and Shajapur. Rewa, Shahdol, and Jabalpur also reported a significant drop in temperature. Cold wave alert in 20 districts The Meteorological Department has issued a cold wave alert for 20 districts — Bhopal, Indore, Agar-Malwa, Rajgarh, Sehore, Dewas, Ujjain, Shajapur, Niwari, Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur, Rewa, Mauganj, Satna, Panna, Maihar, Katni, Jabalpur, Umaria, and Shahdol. Record-breaking chill in Bhopal and Indore Several cities saw record cold on Saturday and Sunday night. The temperature dipped below 10°C in many places. In Bhopal, the minimum temperature dropped to 8°C, the lowest for November in 10 years.In Indore, the mercury fell to 7°C, the coldest November night in the last 25 years. The all-time record dates back to 1938, when Indore recorded 5.6°C.Rajgarh also recorded 7°C for the fourth night in a row, making it the coldest spot in the state. Temperatures also dropped in Gwalior (10.7°C), Ujjain (10.5°C), and Jabalpur (9.8°C). Pachmarhi warmer than other cities Interestingly, Pachmarhi, the state’s only hill station, recorded higher temperatures than most cities. The mercury here was 15°C on Sunday night. Other notable temperatures: Why the cold intensified The continuous snowfall in northern India is causing strong cold winds to sweep into Madhya Pradesh. The Meteorological Department says this marks the first phase of intense cold, which will now continue through November. The cold is expected to be accompanied by increasing fog, especially during the late night and early morning hours. Light fog is already being observed in several districts. Cold days ahead The chill is now noticeable during the day as well. On Sunday, the day temperature in most cities remained below 30°C, and it is likely to drop further in the coming days. Sehore district even witnessed light fog on Sunday morning, indicating increasing winter intensity. A decade-long cold trend in November For the past ten years, Madhya Pradesh has experienced a pattern of rain and cold weather in November. This year will likely follow the same trend. October also witnessed unexpected rain, with the state receiving 2.8 inches of rainfall — 121% above the normal 1.3 inches. In Bhopal, the day temperature on 30 October was 24°C, the coldest October day in 25 years. Several other cities, including Ujjain, Chhatarpur, and Narsinghpur, also recorded daytime temperatures below 24°C. What to expect in November The Meteorological Department had predicted a drop in temperatures during the second week of November, and this has proved true. The decline is especially noticeable in the Gwalior-Chambal region, where northern winds have the strongest effect. Historical data shows extreme November cold in the past: In Bhopal, Indore, and Jabalpur, rainfall is also expected this month. Light rain may occur in the first, third, and fourth weeks of November due to changing weather systems. ​