Weather Update: Heat to rise in Madhya Pradesh as rain and hailstorm end

The recent spell of rain and hailstorms in Madhya Pradesh is coming to an end. From Sunday onwards, the weather will clear up, and temperatures are expected to rise over the next three days. According to the Meteorological Department, the mercury may increase by 3 to 4 degrees Celsius.

The heat was evident in cities like Bhopal, Indore, and Ujjain on Saturday. The maximum temperature in Bhopal crossed 34 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, 15 districts, including Shahdol, Rewa, Sidhi, and Anuppur, experienced rain and hail. Unfortunately, a 55-year-old woman in Shahdol lost her life due to lightning. Crops such as gram, lentil, pigeon pea, and wheat suffered damage due to hailstorms in Sidhi.

On Saturday morning, gooseberry-sized hailstones fell in Satna and Maihar. Wind speeds reached up to 54 km/h in Singrauli, 39 km/h in Rewa, and 34 km/h in Jabalpur.

The weather is expected to remain clear on March 23 and 24, with no alerts for rain. Sunny conditions will persist across the state.

The Meteorological Department warns that temperatures may continue rising, potentially exceeding 40 degrees Celsius in several cities between March 27 and 31. A heatwave could develop in some areas if temperatures rise 4.6 degrees above normal.

The summer season in Madhya Pradesh typically lasts from March to June. The heat is expected to intensify in April and May, with hot winds blowing for 30 to 35 days. The department predicts 15 to 20 days of heatwaves from March to May.

Bhopal has previously recorded temperatures of 41 degrees Celsius in late March, with the coldest temperature in March being 6.1 degrees in 1979. Indore's highest recorded March temperature was 41.1 degrees in 1892, while its coldest was 5 degrees in 1898. Gwalior has seen fluctuating weather in March, with a record high of 41.8 degrees in 2022.

In Jabalpur, nights remain cooler, with an average temperature of 15 degrees, while daytime temperatures can reach 40 degrees. Ujjain experienced its hottest March day in 2010 at 42.5 degrees, while the coldest night was in 1971 at 4.6 degrees.

With rising temperatures and the end of the rain and hailstorm period, residents should prepare for hotter days ahead.

Support us to keep independent environmental journalism alive in India.

Keep Reading

Why does India use lower Pesticides per hectare of cropland than other countries?

Cotton arrivals increase in Madhya Pradesh, prices remain stable

Increasing debt and declining landholdings in agriculture, says NABARD survey

How bamboo fabric is better for environment than cotton?

Follow Ground Report on X, Instagram and Facebook for environmental and underreported stories from the margins. Give us feedback on our email id [email protected]. 

Don't forget to Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, Join our community on WhatsApp, and Follow our YouTube Channel