Madhya Pradesh coldwave deepens as dense fog cuts visibility to 50 metres

Large parts of Madhya Pradesh woke to another punishing winter morning on Monday, with the mercury sliding to 6.8°C and the day’s high capped at 18.4°C, both below normal. Dense fog compounded the chill, pushing visibility down to 50–200 metres across multiple districts and making early travel risky.

The Regional Meteorological Office said there is no immediate relief. Forecasts indicate dense fog and severe coldwave conditions will persist for the next three days, particularly during morning hours.

Where fog was worst

At 8:30 am, visibility fell to 50–200 metres in Gwalior, Datia, Bhind, Morena, Rewa, Satna, Panna, Chhatarpur, Tikamgarh and Niwari, underscoring the scale of the weather event across northern and eastern Madhya Pradesh.

Forecasters cautioned that fog will continue to impair visibility over the coming days while temperatures remain low in cities and select pockets.

Official warning: no let-up ahead

The Met office said cold and fog are likely to tighten their grip under prevailing synoptic conditions. It flagged dense fog at isolated places on Tuesday in Gwalior, Datia, Bhind, Sidhi, Rewa, Mauganj, Satna, Panna, Chhatarpur, Tikamgarh and Niwari.

Moderate fog is expected in parts of Bhopal, Vidisha, Raisen, Sehore, Narmadapuram, Indore, Ujjain, Dewas, Guna, Sagar and Maihar. Rajgarh, Shajapur and Shahdol may also see moderate fog along with cold day conditions.

For Wednesday, moderate fog is likely at isolated locations in Vidisha, Guna, Ashoknagar, Shivpuri, Gwalior, Datia, Bhind, Morena, Sheopur, Singrauli, Sidhi, Rewa, Mauganj, Satna, Anuppur, Shahdol, Umaria, Dindori, Katni, Jabalpur and Maihar.
On Thursday, similar conditions are expected in Gwalior, Datia, Bhind, Morena, Singrauli, Sidhi, Rewa, Mauganj, Satna, Shahdol, Umaria, Panna, Damoh, Chhatarpur, Tikamgarh, Niwari and Maihar.

City impact: Bhopal under a grey blanket

In Bhopal, fog that began Sunday night lingered into Monday afternoon, disrupting normal life. While the maximum temperature was nearly unchanged from the previous day, the minimum dropped by about 4°C, intensifying the chill.

Across the state, the last 24 hours remained dry, but coldwave conditions prevailed in Shahdol. Cold day conditions were reported in Bhopal, Sehore, Khandwa, Ratlam, Ujjain, Tikamgarh and Datia, with severe cold day conditions in Rajgarh and Vidisha, according to the Met.

Schools, travel and public safety

With the cold showing no signs of easing, the state government earlier announced extended winter breaks in at least 19 districts. In others, including Bhopal, school timings were altered to protect children from early-morning exposure.

For commuters, low visibility means slower traffic, higher accident risk and potential delays for road and rail. Authorities are urging caution during peak fog hours.

Why this matters right now

Persistent coldwaves and fog increase the risk of traffic accidents, strain public health among the elderly and children, and disrupt education and economic activity. With forecasts pointing to several more days of hazardous conditions, preparedness and timely advisories are crucial.

What to watch next

• Whether authorities issue fresh travel advisories or traffic restrictions during low-visibility hours.

• Any extension of school closures or further changes to class timings.

• Updates from the Met office on when fog density and coldwave intensity may ease.