An early and intense winter has started sweeping across Madhya Pradesh, with temperatures dipping sharply in most cities, including Jabalpur. Weather department say the state is likely to face one of its coldest winters in recent years as icy winds from northern India begin to dominate weather patterns. In Jabalpur, the minimum temperature on Saturday was recorded at 12 degrees Celsius, a sharp fall from 17.4 degrees on the same day last year.

 

Temperatures in the outskirts of the city dipped even further, dropping by one to two degrees below the urban average. The chill, which generally arrives in the second half of November has set in nearly a week earlier this time. According to weather department, the fall in temperature is directly linked to snowfall in the northern hill states. As the monsoon moisture declines, nights start cooling faster. Snowfall in the Himalayan region changes the wind direction, bringing cold and dry air from the northeast towards central India.

 

This shift, known as the ‘wind pattern set’ has intensified the chill across the state. The weather department has forecast that the cold will continue to deepen over the next few days. Foggy mornings and cold nights are expected to become more frequent as temperatures drop further. At present, the effect of cold is felt more during late night and early morning hours. Light fog will also start appearing in the coming days. Spokesman of weather department informed that snowfall has already begun in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, with the famous shrines of Badrinath and Kedarnath now blanketed in snow.

 

The cold winds flowing southward from these regions have started influencing the plains, pulling down mercury levels across MP. The department predicts clear skies for the next four to five days, with a gradual decline in both day and night temperatures. The wind flow from the north will persist, leading to a dip in mercury across the state, the spokesman said, adding that coming weeks could see record lows if the current pattern continues. Sharp fall has surprised many, but for weather experts, it is a clear sign that city is set for a prolonged and biting winter this year.