The Meteorological Department has issued an alert for heavy rain and thunderstorms in 36 districts of Madhya Pradesh. Cities like Bhopal, Gwalior and Jabalpur are also likely to be affected. The department has warned of strong winds, which may reach speeds of 60 kilometers per hour in some areas.
Meteorologists reported that a weather front is moving over the state, and two cyclonic circulations are currently active. These weather systems have changed the usual hot and dry summer pattern. Due to this, storms and rain have continued for the last five days in many parts of the state.
The department issued a warning for very strong winds and heavy rainfall in six districts—Narsinghpur, Chhindwara, Pandhurna, Seoni, Mandla and Balaghat. It also issued alerts for thunderstorms and rain in 30 other districts including Bhopal, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Rajgarh, Dewas, Harda, Betul, Rewa and Shahdol.
This weather is unusual for the Nautapa period, which normally brings intense heat. Last year during Nautapa, temperatures reached 48°C in many districts. This year, storms and rain have dominated the season. From May 25 to May 29, more than ten districts experienced heavy rain and strong winds.
On Thursday, bad weather forced Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav to cancel his visit to Chhatarpur. The helipad was flooded and the tent for his meeting was blown away by strong winds. Rain and storms also hit Satna, Sagar, Mauganj, Rajgarh, Sheopur, Khajuraho and Guna.
Day temperatures also dropped across the state. Only five cities—Gwalior, Tikamgarh, Shivpuri, Ratlam and Guna—recorded temperatures above 40°C. Bhopal recorded 39.5°C, Indore 36.3°C, Ujjain 37.5°C, and Jabalpur 38.6°C. On the same date last year, temperatures crossed 47°C in cities like Niwari, Khajuraho, Datia and Sidhi. This year, not a single day in May crossed 44°C.
This May, rain has fallen somewhere in the state for 29 straight days. In comparison, May 2023 saw rain on 20 days, but not every day. The Meteorological Department expects similar conditions to continue till June 2.
The weather began to change on April 26. Since then, storms, rain and hail have affected many districts. In early April, temperatures in several divisions crossed 40°C due to hot winds. By the second week, 80 percent of the state saw rainfall and thunderstorms.
In the third week of April, cooler north-western winds lowered night temperatures. Day temperatures remained between 40°C and 44°C. By the last week, rain and hail became common. These conditions continued through May.
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