Nowgaon recorded 44.8 degrees Celsius, the highest temperature logged anywhere in Madhya Pradesh this season, as the India Meteorological Department issued heat wave warnings across 30 of the state’s districts for May 15.
The IMD’s Meteorological Centre in Bhopal released the bulletin on Friday morning, warning that most parts of the state will see maximum temperatures between 42 and 45 degrees Celsius through the day.
Where It Is Hottest
Ratlam recorded temperatures more than 5.1 degrees above seasonal normal on Wednesday — the most extreme departure from normal in the state. The district also recorded a loo, the dry hot wind that signals dangerous heat stress conditions.
Dhar and Khandwa recorded temperatures between 3.1 and 5 degrees above normal. Every remaining district in Madhya Pradesh recorded temperatures at least 1.5 degrees above normal.
In Mandla, the heat extended through the night. The district’s minimum temperature stayed more than 4.5 degrees above normal — a sign that residents had no overnight relief from the day’s extreme heat.
The IMD has placed 30 districts under active heat wave warnings for May 15. They are: Raisen, Rajgarh, Narmadapuram, Harda, Burhanpur, Khandwa, Khargone, Badwani, Alirajpur, Jhabua, Ratlam, Dewas, Shajapur, Agar Malwa, Guna, Ashok Nagar, Shivpuri, Gwalior, Datia, Bhind, Morena, Sheopur, Satna, Narsinghpur, Panna, Damoh, Sagar, Chhatarpur, Tikamgarh, and Niwari.
The warnings remain in force for May 16 across a similar geographic spread.
What Authorities Are Telling Residents
The IMD has issued a set of public safety advisories alongside the bulletin. Residents are advised to stay indoors and avoid direct sunlight between noon and 4 pm. Those who must go outside should wear loose, light-coloured cotton clothing and cover their heads with cloth, a hat, or an umbrella.
Authorities have also urged residents to stay hydrated, avoid strenuous outdoor activity, and take shelter in shaded or cool spaces frequently.
The bulletin advises people to keep an emergency kit stocked with non-perishable food, water, medicines, a torch, batteries, and a basic first aid kit. Residents should plan evacuation routes in advance, including transport options.
The IMD also flagged the risk of vector-borne diseases — including dengue, malaria, and chikungunya — during the heat wave period, and asked residents to follow public health guidelines issued by local authorities.
No Relief in Sight
The IMD forecast shows temperatures staying well above normal across Madhya Pradesh on both May 15 and May 16. The heat index maps — which factor in humidity alongside temperature to estimate what conditions feel like to the human body — show large parts of the state registering index values in the 40 to 50 degree range, with pockets exceeding 50 degrees.
At 44.8 degrees in Nowgaon and a heat wave active across two-thirds of the state’s districts, Madhya Pradesh is in the grip of a dangerous and widening heat event. Thursday offers no exit.
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