Heatwave grips Madhya Pradesh as rain, hail hit 17 districts amid high temps

Madhya Pradesh is witnessing unusual weather conditions. While some areas are battling intense heat and heatwaves, others are seeing rain, hail, and strong winds. On Wednesday, Indore recorded a high of 41.4°C. The weather department has issued a heatwave alert for several districts, including Ujjain, Guna, Ashoknagar, Rajgarh, Shajapur, Agar-Malwa, Panna, Ratlam, Neemuch, and Mandsaur. Temperatures in these areas are expected to remain between 41°C and 42°C. Night temperatures in cities like Ujjain, Gwalior, Indore, Khandwa, Narmadapuram, Dhar, and Rewa could stay above 25°C.

At the same time, 17 districts are likely to receive rain and thunderstorms. These include Sheopur, Morena, Bhind, Datia, Niwari, Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur, Satna, Rewa, Sidhi, Mauganj, Singrauli, Shahdol, Anuppur, Dindori, Mandla, and Balaghat. Hailstorms may also occur in some parts.

On Wednesday, areas like Chhindwara and Pandhurna were hit by heavy rain and hail. Strong winds knocked down trees in several places. Meteorologists say a western disturbance and trough system are active, which is causing this mixed weather. These conditions may continue for the next three days.

Due to the heat, school timings have been changed in many districts, including Bhopal, Ratlam, Shivpuri, Ujjain, and Neemuch. Classes are being held only till noon to avoid exposing students to extreme heat. The weather on Wednesday showed a clear contrast across the state. While some areas like Chhindwara, Seoni, and Balaghat experienced rain and hail, others like Ratlam, Narmadapuram, and Gwalior recorded high temperatures. Ratlam touched 44.2°C, Narmadapuram 43.3°C, Bhopal 41°C, and Ujjain 42°C.

In the first week of April, night temperatures were 2–3°C above normal in most divisions, staying between 21°C and 24°C. Day temperatures in Indore, Sagar, and Narmadapuram divisions rose to 39°C–44°C. In the second week, night temperatures are expected to remain between 23°C and 26°C in Indore, Ujjain, and Chambal.

Some relief may come to Bhopal, Jabalpur, Sagar, and Rewa divisions, where nights could remain around 22°C–24°C. But day temperatures in most parts will stay between 41°C and 43°C, with heatwaves possible for 2–3 days.

In the third week, north-western winds will push night temperatures to 25°C–27°C across the state. Daytime highs could reach 42°C–44°C. Light rain may occur in some areas. In the fourth week, nights will become hotter, with temperatures between 27°C and 30°C. Daytime temperatures will peak at 43°C–45°C in Gwalior, Chambal, Sagar, and Rewa. Other areas, including Indore, Ujjain, and Bhopal, will likely see highs of 41°C–44°C. A cyclonic circulation over Bengal may bring another 3–4 days of heatwave conditions.

Long-term trends show that April and May are the hottest months in the state. The weather department has predicted heatwaves for 15–20 days till May, with hot winds likely to blow for 30–35 days across April and May.

Looking at historical data, Bhopal hit 44.4°C on 29 April 1996. It also received 30.8 mm of rain on 20 April 2013 and 22.6 mm in April 2023. Indore reached a record high of 44.6°C on 25 April 1958. The city has seen April rain in six out of the last ten years. Jabalpur once recorded 45.4°C in April 1970. It also received 50.3 mm of rain on 3 April 1935. Last year, it saw 20.2 mm of rain in April.

Gwalior stands out with temperatures crossing 45°C several times. It set a rain record in 1909 with 67.6 mm on a single day. Last April, the city received more than 4 inches of rain. Ujjain touched 45.2°C on 18 April 2010 and crossed 43°C twice in the last decade. The city also received over an inch of rain last April.

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