Madhya Pradesh is already living through April in March. Temperatures across the state have crossed 39 degrees Celsius, and meteorologists say the mercury will push past 40 degrees within four days. The heat has arrived weeks ahead of schedule, and residents are feeling it.
On Thursday, Narmadapuram recorded 39.4°C, the first time this season the city has crossed that threshold. Gwalior, Chambal and the Sagar division are the worst affected, with temperatures running 3 to 4 degrees above normal.
The India Meteorological Department says something unusual is happening this year. “In the last 10 years, intense heat has only arrived after March 15,” a department official said. “This time, the mercury jumped at the start of the month, not the second fortnight.”
On Thursday alone, four of the five major cities in the state, Indore, Gwalior, Ujjain and Jabalpur, crossed 35°C. Bhopal recorded 34.6°C. Nights are warming too, with temperatures climbing above 18°C after dark.
City-by-City Temperatures and Forecasts
| City | Max Temp (°C) | Weather Forecast |
|---|---|---|
| Narmadapuram | 39.4 | Hottest in state; clear skies, intense sun |
| Khajuraho (Chhatarpur) | 36.8 | Hot and dry; no rain expected |
| Dhar | 36.6 | Above normal; sunny conditions |
| Damoh | 36.4 | Clear sky; temperature rising |
| Sagar | 36.4 | 3–4°C above normal; heat building |
| Shyopur | 36.4 | Dry and hot; no relief in sight |
| Ratlam | 36.2 | Hot with clear skies |
| Guna | 36.0 | Above average temperatures |
| Tikamgarh | 36.0 | Hot days; warm nights |
| Jabalpur | 35+ | Hot days, cool nights persisting |
| Indore | 35+ | Temperature to cross 40°C by mid-April |
| Gwalior | 35+ | Most changed city in March; may hit 45°C in May |
| Ujjain | 35+ | Warm days; cool nights expected |
| Bhopal | 34.6 | To cross 40°C; nights between 10–17°C |
A weather trough is passing through the state’s eastern region, and a cyclonic circulation is also active, but neither is delivering meaningful relief. The sky is clear, and the sun’s rays are hitting the ground without interruption.
“There is no heat wave alert for March,” a meteorological official confirmed. “But the strong heat trend in the second fortnight is already visible. The conditions are unusual for this time of year.”
Worse to Come in April and May
Forecasters are not optimistic about the months ahead. The department predicts the state’s worst heatwave of the year will strike in April and May. In the districts of Gwalior, Chambal, Jabalpur, Rewa, Shahdol and the Sagar division, the mercury could cross 45°C.
“This time, the heat can last 15 to 20 days in April and May,” one meteorologist said, warning residents to prepare early.
The maximum temperature in Bhopal, Indore and Ujjain is expected to cross 40°C in the coming days, while nights could drop to between 10 and 17°C, a striking gap between day and night. In Gwalior, night temperatures have fallen as low as 8°C even as days burn.
The unusual weather is not limited to March. February brought four spells of rain, hail and thunderstorms. The first two storms caused significant crop damage, prompting the government to launch a survey of affected fields.
A dry spell gripped the state from February 18, with its effects carrying through to February 21. A fourth round of hail and rain struck between February 23 and 24, compounding losses for farmers already hit hard by earlier storms.
With March heating up far ahead of schedule, and April and May forecast to be the hottest in years, communities across Madhya Pradesh face a long and difficult summer.
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