Weather turned more acutely cold throughout the state on Friday under the impact of northerly winds. The minimum temperature at Bhopal slumped to 5.2 degrees Celsius - the lowest in the season and five degrees below the normal mark.
Interestingly even Pachmarhi, the only hill station in state recorded minimum temperature higher than Bhopal (5.6 degrees).
However, many parts of north and north-eastern MP are experiencing severe cold wave conditions. In areas where minimum temperatures were recorded below four degrees, frosting is being experienced as water kept in open air and dewdrops on plants and crops are turning into icicles, displaying the extent of cold.
Naogaon in Chhatarpur district recorded minimum temperature of 0.8 degrees while places like Gwalior and Khajuraho recorded minimum temperature of 2.0 and 2.3 degrees respectively. Many other places recorded temperatures between three and four degrees.
In Bhopal, the winds turned extremely cold, especially during late night and early morning hours and despite sunshine, day remained very cold on Friday. People were seen wearing heavy woollens and those on night duty in the open - like watchmen - and destitute people are resorting to lighting of bonfire to keep themselves warm.
The met office has said the extreme cold conditions are due to fact that wind direction has turned dead northerly and icy winds from north MP are being pulled in into state. “The conditions would continue to be extreme for at least another 24 hours after which slight rise in temperatures is indicated,” director of Regional Meteorological Centre DP Dubey said.
{{/usCountry}}The met office has said the extreme cold conditions are due to fact that wind direction has turned dead northerly and icy winds from north MP are being pulled in into state. “The conditions would continue to be extreme for at least another 24 hours after which slight rise in temperatures is indicated,” director of Regional Meteorological Centre DP Dubey said.
{{/usCountry}}January is considered one of the coldest months in this part of the country and often temperatures dip below eight degrees mark in various parts of the state during the month. In Bhopal, the lowest minimum temperature recorded historically during the month was 0.6 degrees on January 18, 1935. In 2011, the lowest minimum temperature during month was recorded at 2.3 degrees on January 5 while in 2012, minimum temperature of 4.9 degrees on January 21.