Light rain and strong winds are expected across Madhya Pradesh for the next four days. The Meteorological Department has warned that several districts may see showers on Dussehra as a new weather system becomes active from October 1.
Senior weather scientist Dr. Divya E. Surendran said the system will extend the monsoon’s stay in the state. “Light rain is forecast for four days, with thunderstorms and strong winds. Heavy rain may return from the fifth day,” she said.
The southern and eastern districts will be more affected. Officials advised residents to remain alert, especially during festival gatherings.
On Monday, several districts recorded rain. Gwalior received 1.25 inches in nine hours. Light showers were reported in Bhopal, Datia, Khargone, Barwani, Narmadapuram, Mandla, and Sagar.
In Khargone, the cotton trade has come to a halt. Moisture has damaged harvested cotton, forcing farmers and factory owners to dry stock in the open. Pritesh Agarwal, director of KK Fibers, said, “Seven hundred quintals of cotton kept for drying got wet and washed away. Farmers cannot pick fresh cotton from the fields as wet cotton is breaking off from plants.”
Monsoon departure delayed
Normally, the monsoon withdraws from Madhya Pradesh by October 6. This year, the monsoon entered on June 16, a day late. So far, it has retreated from 12 districts, including Gwalior, Sheopur, Morena, Bhind, Datia, Shivpuri, Guna, Agar-Malwa, Neemuch, Mandsaur, and Ratlam.
But with the new system forming, experts say the farewell will be delayed by at least a week. “The conditions are not favorable for withdrawal right now,” Dr. Surendran said.
Since June 16, Madhya Pradesh has recorded 45.1 inches of rain against the normal 37.2 inches. This is 122 percent of the average, with 7.8 inches more than expected.
Some districts, like Guna, received exceptionally high rainfall at 65.6 inches. Mandla and Raisen also crossed 62 inches, while Sheopur and Ashoknagar saw more than 56 inches.
By contrast, Shajapur, Khargone, Khandwa, Barwani, and Dhar are among the driest districts, recording between 28 and 34 inches.
Mixed picture across divisions
Indore division, which struggled with low rainfall earlier, met its quota in September due to heavy showers. Ujjain division, however, still lags behind. Eastern regions like Jabalpur, Rewa, Sagar, and Shahdol received far more than the average, with floods reported in some districts.
The Meteorological Department has listed more than 40 districts where rain may fall during the Dussehra festival. These include Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur, Ujjain, Gwalior, Rewa, and Shahdol divisions.
| City | Temperature (°C) | Forecast |
|---|---|---|
| Bhopal | 28 | Cloudy, light rain |
| Indore | 27 | Light rain, winds |
| Gwalior | 29 | Showers, thunder |
| Jabalpur | 26 | Light rain |
| Sagar | 27 | Cloudy, scattered rain |
| Barwani | 30 | Rain, strong winds |
| Khargone | 29 | Showers, humid |
For now, cloudy skies and light rain will continue across the state. Farmers are bracing for more damage if heavy showers return, while urban areas may see waterlogging during the festival period.
Officials stressed that people should plan Dussehra celebrations keeping the weather in mind.
Support us to keep independent environmental journalism alive in India.
Keep Reading
Highway Halt Puts Kashmir’s Fruit Economy at Risk
Microplastics Contaminating Bhopal’s Fresh Vegetables
Stay connected with Ground Report for underreported environmental stories.
Follow us onX, Instagram, and Facebook; share your thoughts at greport2018@gmail.com; subscribe to our weekly newsletter for deep dives from the margins; join our WhatsApp community for real-time updates; and catch our video reports on YouTube.
Your support amplifies voices too often overlooked, thank you for being part of the movement.
