A spell of light rainfall accompanied by strong winds brought much-needed relief to parts of Madhya Pradesh on Friday night. Cities including Bhopal, Harda, Dewas, Sehore, Raisen, and Narmadapuram experienced showers, with wind speeds touching 50 kmph in Bhopal, 47 kmph in Sehore, and 30 kmph in Harda-Pachmarhi.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast rainfall and thunderstorms across 34 districts in the coming days, signaling a temporary reprieve from the intense summer heat. On Friday, day temperatures peaked at 42°C, a notable dip from the scorching 44°C recorded earlier. Bhopal recorded a maximum temperature of 40.7°C, with the morning hours remaining cloudy and comparatively less warm before heating up later in the day.
Despite the respite, heatwave conditions are expected to persist in isolated pockets of Mandsaur, Neemuch, Guna, Ashoknagar, Shivpuri, Chhindwara, Chhatarpur, Tikamgarh, Niwari, Ratlam, Khandwa, and Burhanpur, IMD officials said.
Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning are likely over Raisen, while thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds between 40-50 kmph are forecast for Narmadapuram, Betul, Harda, Burhanpur, Khandwa, Khargone, Gwalior, Datia, Bhind, Morena, Sheopur, Singrauli, Sidhi, Rewa, Anuppur, Shahdol, Umaria, Dindori, Katni, Jabalpur, Narsinghpur, Seoni, Mandla, Balaghat, Damoh, and Pandhurna.
Due to an active trough system, light rain and thunderstorms are expected on Saturday across 19 districts, including Gwalior, Morena, Bhind, Datia, Sheopur, Ashoknagar, Vidisha, Sagar, Narmadapuram, Betul, Narsinghpur, Chhindwara, Pandhurna, Jabalpur, Seoni, Mandla, Balaghat, Dindori, and Anuppur. Additional rainfall activity is likely in Khandwa, Burhanpur, Pachmarhi, Damoh, Sagar, Katni, Panna, Maihar, Umaria, Sidhi, Shahdol, and Rewa.
In particular, Narmadapuram, Betul, and Harda are expected to experience lightning with thunder in the afternoon hours, while Khandwa reported light drizzle early Saturday morning.
Senior meteorologists predict that the state will continue to witness light rain and thunderstorms for the next four days, providing intermittent relief.
