A powerful weather system swept across Madhya Pradesh on Friday, bringing hailstorms, heavy rain and fierce winds to 42 districts. The Meteorological Centre in Bhopal issued alerts across the state, placing nine districts under an orange alert โ the second-highest warning level.
The storm claimed at least one life. A woman died after lightning struck her in Mauganj district on Thursday. Strong winds in Sehore blew away an outdoor set being used to film the popular web seriesย Panchayat.
The Meteorological Centre placed Alirajpur, Dhar, Barwani, Khargone, Khandwa, Burhanpur, Narsinghpur, Chhindwara and Seoni under an orange alert, warning of hailstorms and winds gusting between 50 and 60 kilometres per hour. More than 30 other districts received warnings of strong winds blowing at 30 to 40 km per hour.
A cyclonic circulation and two active trough systems are driving the turbulent conditions across the state. The Meteorological Department said the stormy weather will continue until April 6.
Bhopal Hit by Power Outages
Thursday evening brought a severe thunderstorm to the state capital. Power cuts hit several neighbourhoods including Kolar, Raisen Road, Avadhpuri, Hoshangabad Road and the old city. Light rain continued through the night and into Friday morning, when clouds blanketed much of Bhopal.
A fresh western disturbance is expected to become active from April 7, bringing another round of unsettled weather until April 10. Once that system clears, temperatures are forecast to climb sharply.
The second week of April is expected to mark the start of intense summer heat across the state. By the last week of April, cities in the west and north of Madhya Pradesh could see maximum temperatures touching 44 to 45ยฐC. Historical data from the past ten years shows Bhopal and Indore have touched 43ยฐC in April, while Gwalior has exceeded 45ยฐC.
Current Temps Across Key Cities
| City | Thursday Max Temp (ยฐC) | Current Forecast |
|---|---|---|
| Khajuraho | 40.4 | Storm/Rain alert |
| Ratlam | 39.5 | Storm/Rain alert |
| Damoh | ~39.0 | Storm/Rain alert |
| Naugaon | ~39.0 | Storm/Rain alert |
| Bhopal | 36.2 | Storm/Rain alert |
| Gwalior | โ | 44โ45ยฐC expected by late April |
| Dhar | โ | 44โ45ยฐC expected by late April |
| Khargone | โ | 44โ45ยฐC expected by late April |
| Barwani | โ | 44โ45ยฐC expected by late April |
Residents across Madhya Pradesh are advised to stay indoors during peak storm hours and watch for updates from the Meteorological Centre Bhopal as conditions evolve through the weekend.
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