Heavy rain, hail, and thunderstorms battered more than 20 districts of Madhya Pradesh on Monday, as two active weather systems continue to churn across the state.
The Bhopal Meteorological Centre has issued a thunderstorm warning for 16 districts, including Gwalior, Datia, Bhind, Morena, Sheopur, Betul, Chhindwara, and Balaghat, over the next 24 hours. Winds could gust between 30 and 40 km/h.
What Is Driving the Storms
Meteorologist Arun Sharma confirmed the cause. “The weather has changed due to turf and cyclonic circulation,” he said, adding that the two systems will remain active until April 3.
Weather scientist H.S. Pandey explained the moisture source. “Moisture is coming from the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal,” he said. “Due to this, the day temperature will drop across the entire state.”
Hail struck Ujjain, Neemuch, Mandsaur, Betul, Dhar, and Sehore on Monday. Districts including Bhopal, Balaghat, Ratlam, Khandwa, Dewas, Seoni, and Anuppur saw rain and thunderstorms sweep through.
Before the storms arrived, temperatures climbed sharply. Khajuraho hit 40.4°C and Narmadapuram reached 40.2°C — the two hottest spots in the state on Monday. Even amid the unsettled skies, heat remained intense in pockets across Madhya Pradesh.
Another System Arrives on April 2
A further disruption is on the way. The meteorological department says another system will activate on April 2, when western disturbances are likely to affect northwest India, and shift the weather in Madhya Pradesh once again.
This is the fourth time the weather has turned in March alone. Earlier rounds of storms and hail hit more than 45 districts across consecutive days, damaging crops of wheat, papaya, and banana. Farmers have already faced four separate hail events since February, prompting the government to survey affected crops.
Looking further ahead, the weather department has warned of punishing heat in April and May. Mercury could cross 45°C in districts of Gwalior, Chambal, Jabalpur, Rewa, Shahdol, and Sagar division. Bhopal, Indore, Ujjain, and Narmadapuram divisions will also face significant warmth.
Temperatures and Forecast Across Major Cities
| City | Temperature (°C) | Forecast |
|---|---|---|
| Khajuraho | 40.4 | Thunderstorm warning issued |
| Narmadapuram | 40.2 | Thunderstorm warning issued |
| Jabalpur | 39.3 | Storms expected |
| Ratlam | 39.6 | Rain and thunderstorms |
| Bhopal | 37.4 | Thunderstorm warning issued |
| Ujjain | 37.0 | Hail reported Monday |
| Indore | 36.5 | Changing conditions |
| Gwalior | 35.8 | Thunderstorm warning issued |
| Betul | — | Hail and rain reported |
| Balaghat | — | Thunderstorm warning issued |
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