The monsoon is making a slow exit from Madhya Pradesh. While it has already withdrawn from Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Punjab, Madhya Pradesh will likely see rainfall until the first week of October.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heavy showers in the state between September 25 and 26. Light rain is expected in some districts on Tuesday.
“Monsoon had knocked in MP on June 16. Normally, it lasts till September. This year, rains may continue till the first week of October,” said Dr. Divya E. Surendran, senior scientist at IMD Bhopal.
Heat and rain in different districts
On Monday, the state experienced varied weather. Bhopal residents faced heat and humidity under a clear sky. In Indore, nearly an inch of rainfall brought some relief. Ratlam recorded a light drizzle.
The uneven weather has become a feature of this year’s monsoon. Some districts are drenched, while others continue to remain behind their normal rainfall quota.
So far, Madhya Pradesh has received 43.9 inches of rainfall against an expected 36.5 inches. That is 7.4 inches more than normal, or 118 percent of the quota. The state’s long-term average rainfall stands at 37 inches, which was already crossed last week.
The distribution of rainfall has been uneven. Eastern parts of the state, including Jabalpur, Rewa, Sagar, and Shahdol divisions, have received heavy rain. Flooding was reported in districts like Chhatarpur, Mandla, Tikamgarh, and Umaria. Gwalior-Chambal divisions also recorded rainfall above the quota in all eight districts.
In contrast, the picture in Indore and Ujjain divisions has been patchy. Indore had the lowest rainfall in the state for most of the season. Questions were raised on whether it would meet the average quota. Heavy rains in September changed that, helping Indore touch normal levels. Still, Barwani, Khargone, and Khandwa remain among the lowest rain receivers. Ujjain is also short, with Shajapur recording the second-lowest rainfall in the state.
Rainfall highs and lows
Data shows a wide gap between the highest and lowest rainfall districts. Guna tops the list with 65.4 inches, followed by Raisen at 61.1 inches and Mandla at 60 inches. Sheopur and Ashoknagar also crossed 56 inches. On the other end, Khargone recorded just 26.8 inches, the lowest in the state. Shajapur, Khandwa, and Barwani remain below 30 inches.
| City | Temperature (°C) | Forecast |
|---|---|---|
| Bhopal | 34 | Hot, humid |
| Indore | 30 | Light rain likely |
| Gwalior | 32 | Cloudy, scattered rain |
| Jabalpur | 31 | Intermittent rain |
| Ratlam | 29 | Drizzle expected |
| Khargone | 33 | Dry, sunny spells |
Officials say the retreat of the monsoon will only happen after this final wet spell. “The state is expected to see rain until early October. After that, the southwest monsoon will withdraw,” said Dr. Surendran.
The next week will decide how the season closes for Madhya Pradesh. For now, residents should be prepared for another round of heavy rain before the skies finally clear.
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