Madhya Pradesh will see the arrival of the monsoon only after June 10, according to the Meteorological Department. Currently, the monsoon is stalled between Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh and has not advanced for several days. Until then, pre-monsoon storm and rain activity will continue across the state.
On Monday, 50 districts, including Bhopal, Indore, Ujjain, Gwalior, Morena, and many others, are under a thunderstorm alert. Winds in these areas may reach speeds of 40 to 50 kilometers per hour. Some districts like Harda, Barwani, Khandwa, Khargone, and Burhanpur are expected to have clear weather. Senior Meteorologist Dr. Divya E. Surendran explained that three cyclonic circulations and a western disturbance are currently active, causing light rain and thunderstorms in the state.
Temperatures will rise slightly, but no heat wave is expected. On Sunday, Bhopal recorded a temperature of 37.4 degrees Celsius. This May, the state experienced less heat than usual. No city saw temperatures above 43 degrees, which is lower compared to April when some cities reached 45 degrees. The usual heat during the Nautapa period was also mild, with only a few cities crossing 40 degrees.
May brought heavy rain and storms instead of the usual heat. Rain and hail were recorded almost every day in some districts, which is unusual for this time of year. Indore received 4.6 inches of rain, breaking a 139-year record. Ujjain also set a new record with over 4.3 inches of rainfall. This continuous rainfall is a first in Madhya Pradesh’s history for the month of May.
| Location | Weather trend (last 10 years) | Max temperature | Rainfall details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bhopal | Intense heat before June 15 | Over 45°C in 3 years | Max 16 inches in 2020; 5.5+ inches last year | Night temperature drops to 17.4°C |
| Indore | Less heat in June (last 4 years) | 39.6 to 41.1°C | Over 4 inches last year | June rainfall ~20% of annual quota |
| Gwalior | Hot in May and June | Max 47.8°C in 2019 | More than 6 inches last year | Temperature usually 45-46°C in June |
| Jabalpur | Good rain during monsoon entry | Not specified | Over 10 inches last year | Received 30% of annual quota (2014-2023) |
| Ujjain | Good rain in June | Not specified | 2.5 to 8 inches (2015-2023) | Monsoon may enter by June 20 |
Dr. Surendran said the unusual weather is due to ongoing activity from cyclonic circulations, western disturbances, and turf activity. These systems kept the state under constant storm and rain conditions throughout May, preventing the usual rise in temperature.
Meteorologists predict that thunderstorms and rain will continue until June 5 due to active cyclonic circulation. Temperatures may rise slightly, and humidity will increase during this period. The monsoon is likely to enter Madhya Pradesh between June 7 and 10.
Data from the past decade shows that Madhya Pradesh usually faces intense heat before the monsoon arrives. The Gwalior-Chambal region often becomes the hottest, followed by divisions like Bhopal and Indore. Night temperatures typically drop to between 8 and 10 degrees by late June, offering some relief from the heat. Similar weather patterns are expected this year as well.
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