Madhya Pradesh is entering the final phase of the southwest monsoon, but rainfall activity has not ended yet. Rain, thunderstorms and lightning are expected in parts of the state through September 21, with another spell possible before the monsoon begins withdrawing from Madhya Pradesh.
Meteorologist Shailendra Kumar Naik said rainfall activity is likely to continue between September 18 and 21. Rainfall is expected to become more limited from September 22, although the monsoon could remain active in parts of the state until the last week of September.
The India Meteorological Department’s current forecast also indicates continued weather activity over Madhya Pradesh during this period. A low-pressure area over Saurashtra and the adjoining northeast Arabian Sea, along with its associated circulation, has been influencing weather conditions across central India.
Madhya Pradesh has received 842.1 mm, or 33.1 inches, of rainfall so far this monsoon season. This is about 7 per cent below the normal rainfall of 905.3 mm, or 35.6 inches, expected by this point in the season.
The rainfall deficit is not spread evenly across the state. Eastern Madhya Pradesh is close to normal, with rainfall about 2 per cent below average, while the western part has received about 11 per cent less rainfall than normal, according to the latest figures cited in the report.
The state has received enough rain to improve conditions in several districts, but pockets of deficit remain. The next few days could be important for districts that have received less rainfall than normal.
32 districts still below normal
Around 32 districts continue to record rainfall below normal, with the deficit ranging from 4 per cent to 50 per cent.
In eastern Madhya Pradesh, districts including Balaghat, Chhindwara, Dindori, Damoh, Jabalpur, Katni, Narsinghpur, Pandhurna, Mandla, Rewa, Sagar and Seoni have recorded deficits of between 4 per cent and 25 per cent.
The deficit is greater in parts of western Madhya Pradesh. Alirajpur, Ashoknagar, Betul, Dewas, Dhar, Harda, Indore, Jhabua, Khandwa, Mandsaur, Morena, Narmadapuram, Neemuch, Barwani, Raisen, Ratlam, Sehore, Shajapur, Ujjain and Vidisha are among the districts that remain below normal.
Alirajpur has received about half of its normal rainfall, while Niwari has received 54 per cent more rainfall than normal, according to the figures cited in the report.
Rain in Bhopal, Sehore and Dewas
Several parts of Madhya Pradesh received rain on Thursday. Bhopal recorded a spell of heavy rain during the afternoon, while Sehore and Dewas also received rain.
In Sonkatch on the Bhopal-Indore road, heavy rain reduced visibility and vehicles had to use their headlights. Gwalior received evening rain, which brought relief from humid conditions.
Vidisha also received heavy rain late Thursday night. The rainfall brought down temperatures in the district.
Arabian Sea system supporting rainfall
Naik said a low-pressure area had formed over Saurashtra and the adjoining northeast Arabian Sea, with an associated cyclonic circulation extending up to about 5.8 km above mean sea level.
The India Meteorological Department reported on Sept. 17 that the low-pressure area had become less marked, but the associated circulation continued. The monsoon trough was also extending across parts of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal towards the Bay of Bengal.
Another weather system is also developing over the Bay of Bengal. The IMD said an upper-air cyclonic circulation over northern Thailand was expected to move towards the North Andaman Sea, where a new low-pressure area could form around September 19. It is then expected to move west-northwest towards the south Odisha and north Andhra Pradesh coast.
This system could influence weather conditions across central India in the coming days.
June deficit still weighs on season
Madhya Pradesh began the monsoon season with a rainfall deficit. The state received 14 per cent less rain than normal in June, according to the figures cited in the report.
Rainfall improved during the early part of July, but the monsoon later went through two weaker phases with several dry days. July also ended with a 13 per cent rainfall deficit.
Rainfall in July and August helped reduce the overall shortfall, but it did not fully make up for the deficit from June. That has left the state about 7 per cent below normal so far this season.
The normal seasonal rainfall for Madhya Pradesh is about 37.3 inches. Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur and Gwalior normally receive around 38 to 39 inches during the monsoon season.
With another spell of rain possible through September 21 and further activity possible later in the month, the remaining days of the monsoon could still change the rainfall picture in several districts.
Support Us To Sustain Independent Environmental Journalism In India.
More Ground Reports
He Was Married as a Child, Now Manish Dangi Helps Stop It for Others
Despite The Ban, How Gutkha Became MP’s Most Common Household Habit
