As the festive spirit of Christmas fills the air, Bhopal is gripped by an intense winter chill. On Tuesday, the city experienced its coldest day of the season so far, with the mercury plunging to a biting 4.8 degrees Celsius. This new low has broken the previous record of 5.2°C set on November 17, signalling a deepening cold spell across the region.
Cold Wave Tightens Its Grip
The regional meteorological office has confirmed that the cold wave is firmly entrenched in the state capital and is likely to persist. The intense chill brought visibility down to between 1 and 2 kilometres in Bhopal due to fog, a condition expected to continue. The weather department has issued a warning for moderate fog and cold wave conditions for the city and other parts of Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday.
While Bhopal shivered, other parts of the state recorded even lower temperatures. Girwar in Shajapur district was the coldest spot, recording a minimum temperature of 4.4°C. Districts like Raisen, Indore, and Shajapur also experienced a severe chill. Visibility was severely affected in several areas: Rewa saw it reduced to 200-500 metres, while Satna, Naogaon, and Sidhi reported visibility between 500 and 1000 metres.
Weather Patterns and Forecast
Meteorologists attribute the persistent cold to the subtropical westerly jet stream prevailing over north India. They also note that a fresh, feeble western disturbance is likely to affect the western Himalayan region from the night of December 17. For Bhopal, the forecast for Wednesday predicts clear skies apart from moderate fog in the early morning. The day temperature is expected to be around 26°C, while the night temperature may drop to about 8°C.
The recorded day temperature in Bhopal on Tuesday was 26.6°C, which is normal for this time of year. However, the night temperature of 4.8°C was a significant six degrees below the normal mark. This sharp dip has raised questions about whether the cold spell will intensify further. Last year, the city saw a low of 3.3°C on December 16, and the current southward trend of the mercury has sparked speculation that this record might be challenged in the coming days.
Impact and Outlook
The ongoing cold wave and dense fog are expected to make daily life challenging for residents. The Met department has placed parts of the state on a fog alert for the next few days. The combination of low temperatures and reduced visibility poses difficulties for commuters and could signal hard times for the city's vulnerable populations.
As Bhopal bundles up, the regional Met department's warning indicates that relief from the cold is not imminent. Residents are advised to take necessary precautions against the chill and plan for travel disruptions due to fog. The city, wrapped in both holiday fervour and a winter embrace, awaits to see if the mercury will dip even lower in the days ahead.
