Unseasonal rain in Madhya Pradesh: Weather alert issued for 5 districts

Madhya Pradesh is seeing heavy rain in May for the first time in years. The weather department has issued an alert for five districts—Khargone, Burhanpur, Khandwa, Harda, and Betul. These areas could receive between 2.5 to 4.5 inches of rain in the next 24 hours. Thunderstorms and rainfall are also expected in Bhopal, Indore, Ujjain, Narmadapuram, and Jabalpur divisions. Wind speeds may reach up to 60 kilometers per hour in some places.

Why is Madhya Pradesh seeing unseasonal rain?

Dr. Divya E. Surendran, senior meteorologist, explained the cause of the recent downpours.

“Two cyclonic circulations and a trough are currently active over the state. These systems are expected to bring storms and rain for the next four days,” she said.

She also noted the impact on temperatures,

“While daytime temperatures might stay high, nights will be cooler due to cloud cover and rainfall.”

This unusual weather is affecting the heat pattern during Nautapa, a period normally marked by extreme heat. Last year, cities like Prithvipur, Datia, Rewa, and Khajuraho recorded temperatures over 48°C. This year, rain and storms have kept temperatures lower. From May 25 to May 28, many districts saw storms, and the mercury has stayed below 45°C across the state.

Storms and rain have already caused damage in several areas. Ujjain saw trees fall due to strong winds. In Rajgarh, tin roofs were blown off, and in Dhar’s Kukshi area, six cattle died from electric shocks during the rain. Rain also affected areas like Dewas, Chhindwara, and Narsinghpur. Weather changes on Wednesday night brought relief in over 20 districts, including Bhopal and Indore. Day temperatures dropped sharply as a result.

Forecast: What’s coming next?

On Wednesday, Bhopal recorded 35.8°C, Indore 33.1°C, Ujjain 36.8°C, and Jabalpur 38.8°C. Gwalior remained hotter at 41°C, while Pachmarhi recorded the lowest temperature at 32°C. Naugaon, Khajuraho, and Tikamgarh stayed around 42°C.

This May has already set a record with rain reported every single day in some part of the state. That makes 28 continuous days of rainfall. In 2023, it rained for 20 days in May, but not without breaks. The weather department says similar rain and storms are likely to continue until June 1.

The change in weather started in late April. Before April 25, hot winds pushed temperatures as high as 44°C in some areas. April’s second week brought strong storms, hail, and rain to 80 percent of the state, although some districts still faced heat. In the third week, north-western winds raised minimum temperatures, while daytime highs stayed around 40–44°C.

Since April 25, the state has experienced continuous changes in weather due to active systems like Western Disturbances, troughs, and cyclonic circulations. These systems have made this summer season wetter and cooler than usual.

With this shift in weather patterns, people across Madhya Pradesh are facing a different kind of summer. The question now is whether this trend will continue in the coming years—and what it means for farming, daily routines, and power use across the state.

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