Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): For the first time in March, cold weather has made a comeback in Madhya Pradesh, with a significant drop in both day and night temperatures across the state. In Bhopal, the mercury plummeted by 7.8 degrees Celsius in a single night, while the daytime temperature fell by 4.7 degrees, settling at 26.9 degrees Celsius. Winds blew at speeds of 20 to 25 km per hour, adding to the chill.

IMD forecasts indicate that April and May will witness extreme heat, with temperatures soaring past 45°C in Gwalior, Chambal, Jabalpur, Rewa, Shahdol, and Sagar divisions. Even Bhopal, Indore, Ujjain, and Narmadapuram will experience intense heatwaves.

Reason Behind the Sudden Cold Spell

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), an active western disturbance over North India has caused this weather shift. Snowfall in the northern hills has led to the influx of cold winds, resulting in a sharp decline in night temperatures. The current weather pattern is expected to persist for the next two days, with a further drop of 2-3 degrees Celsius anticipated.

Upcoming Weather Predictions

A new western disturbance is expected to be active in the western Himalayan region from March 9, which could impact Madhya Pradesh in the following days. However, no rainfall is predicted at this stage.

March 6-7 Forecast:

• The sky will remain clear in Bhopal, but due to winds, the maximum temperature will hover around 28-29°C.

• Indore, Ujjain, Gwalior, and Jabalpur will experience similar conditions.

• A slight rise in daytime temperatures is expected from March 7 onwards.

Nighttime Temperatures Drop Below 10°C

Cold winds have led to a significant drop in nighttime temperatures across multiple cities, with several locations recording temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius. The lowest temperature was observed in Girwar (Shajapur), where the mercury dipped to 7.5 degrees Celsius.

Other notable temperature drops include:

• Rajgarh: 8°C

• Avari (Ashoknagar): 8.2°C

• Marukheda (Neemuch): 9.1°C

• Talun (Barwani): 9.6°C

• Guna: 9.8°C

In major cities:

• Bhopal recorded a significant dip of 7.8 degrees, bringing the temperature down to 10.6°C.

• Indore dropped by 3.6 degrees to 13.2°C.

• Gwalior: 14.2°C

• Ujjain: 13°C

• Jabalpur: 11.4°C

Some districts recorded even lower temperatures:

• Guna: 7.2°C

• Khandwa: 5.4°C

• Ratlam: 6°C

• Sagar: 6.9°C

• Seoni: 3.8°C (one of the lowest in the state)

• Damoh: 4.3°C

• Sidhi: 5°C

Daytime Temperatures Drop as Well

Cold winds from the north have also affected daytime temperatures across the state. The coldest region was Pachmarhi, where the maximum temperature stood at 23°C, dropping by 4.5 degrees in a single day. Other key readings include:

• Bhopal: 26.9°C (-4.7°C drop)

• Indore: 28.4°C

• Gwalior: 27.9°C

• Ujjain: 28.5°C

• Jabalpur: 27.7°C

Meanwhile, some areas continued to experience relatively higher temperatures:

• Khandwa: 34.1°C

• Khargone: 34.6°C

• Tikamgarh: 33.5°C

• Narmadapuram: 33°C

March: A Month of Mixed Weather

Analyzing weather patterns from the past decade, March in Madhya Pradesh has consistently shown a mix of cold nights, hot days, and occasional rain. This year, a similar trend is unfolding, with maximum temperatures in Bhopal, Indore, and Ujjain expected to exceed 40°C later in the month, while nighttime temperatures will remain between 10-17°C.

Gwalior has historically recorded the most temperature fluctuations in March, with nighttime lows dropping to 8°C. Jabalpur typically experiences warm days and chilly nights, a pattern likely to continue this year.