Madhya Pradesh woke up to an unusually hot Holi this year. Temperatures across the state crossed 37°C on Wednesday, sitting nearly 3 degrees above the seasonal average. The heat swept through cities from Indore to Jabalpur, offering little relief to those celebrating outdoors.
How Hot Is It?
Indore and Ujjain divisions recorded the highest daytime temperatures, while Bhopal, Gwalior, and Jabalpur were not far behind. Narmadapuram hit 37.7°C, its highest reading of the season so far. Dhar, Ratlam, and Sagar all crossed 36°C. Guna, Damoh, Khandwa, Tikamgarh, Khajuraho, Khargone, Sheopur, and Mandla stayed above 35°C through the day.
Only Pachmarhi, the state’s lone hill station, managed to stay below 30°C.
| City / Region | Max Temp (°C) | Forecast |
|---|---|---|
| Narmadapuram | 37.7 | Rising further |
| Dhar | 36+ | Warm and dry |
| Ratlam | 36+ | Warm and dry |
| Sagar | 36+ | Warm and dry |
| Guna | 35+ | Above normal |
| Khandwa | 35+ | Above normal |
| Bhopal | 33–35 | Could cross 40 by mid-March |
| Indore | 35+ | Could cross 40 by mid-March |
| Gwalior | 33–35 | Highest variability in March |
| Jabalpur | 33–35 | Hot days, cool nights |
| Pachmarhi | Below 30 | Coolest in the state |
Nights have also warmed up. On Tuesday-Wednesday night, Betul, Guna, Narmadapuram, Khandwa, Ratlam, Sheopur, Jabalpur, Narsinghpur, Sagar, Seoni, and Tikamgarh all recorded nighttime lows above 16°C. Dhar recorded the state’s warmest night at 19°C.
Why the Heat Is Here Early
Meteorologist Arun Sharma explained the situation plainly. “The weather will remain like this for the next 4 days,” he said. “The daytime temperature will increase by 2 to 4 degrees.”
Sharma added that a Western Disturbance is expected to activate over the western Himalayan region from March 6, which may bring light rain and cloud cover to some parts of the state, a brief interruption before the heat resumes.
The meteorological department warns that temperatures could reach 40°C in the first half of March. By April and May, the forecast turns harsher. Districts in Gwalior, Chambal, Jabalpur, Rewa, Shahdol, and Sagar divisions could see mercury cross 45°C. Bhopal, Indore, Ujjain, and Narmadapuram divisions will also face intense heat during those months.
March in Madhya Pradesh typically carries all three weather types, cold nights, hot afternoons, and occasional rain. This year follows that pattern, but the heat has arrived with more force than usual. Despite the sharp rise in daytime temperatures, the meteorological department says there is no heat alert in place for March. That threshold is reserved for April and May, when the department predicts the most severe heatwave conditions of the year.
February added to an already turbulent weather story. The state saw four separate spells of hail, rain, and thunderstorms during the month, two early in February, one stretching from February 18 to 21, and a final hail-rain period on February 23 and 24. The repeated storms damaged crops across the state, prompting the government to conduct field surveys of affected agricultural land.
Support Us To Sustain Independent Environmental Journalism In India.
Keep Reading
Highway Halt Puts Kashmir’s Fruit Economy at Risk
Railway line expansion plan put Kashmir’s apple orchards at risk
Warmer winters in Kashmir raise concerns over apple and crop yields
Stay Connected With Ground Report For Underreported Environmental Stories.
