A significant shift in Madhya Pradesh’s weather has brought much-needed respite from the relentless heat, with widespread rain and hailstorms recorded across several districts on Saturday. The change in weather is attributed to the combined influence of an active Western Disturbance, multiple cyclonic circulations, and trough formations.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that light to heavy rainfall, accompanied by gusty winds, was observed in parts of Dhar, Singrauli, Indore, and Bhopal, while hailstorms were witnessed in areas like Pandhurna, Seoni, Mandla, and Balaghat. In Dhar’s Badnawar region, villagers experienced a brief yet intense downpour early Saturday morning, following cloudy skies on Friday.
Indore recorded consistent drizzle throughout the morning, while Bhopal began the day with overcast skies and later saw brief sunshine. Rainfall was also reported in Rewa, Anuppur, Morena, Sehore, Shahdol, and Mauganj by evening.
Singrauli saw heavy rain in several areas, including Sarai, Devsar, Chitrangi, and Waidhan. Wind speeds reached up to 71 km/h in the district, the highest recorded in the state, followed by Gwalior (52 km/h), Bhind (47 km/h), and Ujjain (45 km/h). Gwalior also received light showers on Friday.
According to the IMD, this widespread weather activity is expected to continue through April 15. The influence of a Western Disturbance centered over Kashmir, combined with two cyclonic circulations—one currently over northeast Madhya Pradesh—and troughs extending to West Bengal and northeast Telangana via Chhattisgarh, are driving the ongoing changes.
Light rain was recorded in the past 24 hours across 17 districts, including Ratlam, Dhar, Ujjain, Jhabua, Bhind, Morena, Datia, Gwalior, Shivpuri, Raisen, Narmadapuram, Rewa, Mauganj, Anuppur, Shahdol, Sidhi, and Singrauli.
This meteorological shift has resulted in a notable drop in both day and night temperatures, bringing relief after weeks of heatwave conditions. On Friday, several districts, including Bhopal, Indore, Ujjain, and Jabalpur, saw day temperatures dip below 40°C, signaling a welcome pause in the sweltering summer.
Looking ahead, a fresh Western Disturbance is forecasted to impact the Western Himalayan region starting April 16, possibly influencing central India’s weather patterns further.
The IMD has issued alerts for 31 districts across Madhya Pradesh, warning of potential thunderstorms, lightning, gusty winds, and isolated hailstorms through the weekend. Districts under watch include Bhopal, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Ujjain, Narmadapuram, Rewa, Shahdol, and Sagar divisions, where residents have been advised to remain cautious, particularly during peak storm activity in the afternoons and evenings.Farmers in rural areas have welcomed the rain, which they say has provided much-needed relief to their crops after a prolonged spell of high temperatures. However, the hailstorms have raised concerns about possible damage to standing wheat and summer crops in parts of Chhindwara, Balaghat, and Mandla. The agriculture department is currently assessing the extent of the damage, with district officials tasked with surveying affected areas.Meanwhile, the recent weather change has also led to a decrease in night temperatures in several districts. According to the IMD, night temperatures dropped significantly in the Rewa division by up to 4.6°C compared to the previous day. However, certain areas like Indore and Ujjain continued to experience warmer-than-usual nights, with temperatures remaining 3.1°C to 3.6°C above normal.Public health officials have also advised residents to remain alert during the fluctuating weather, as sudden temperature drops and gusty winds can impact respiratory conditions and seasonal illnesses. Citizens are being encouraged to stay updated with local weather advisories, avoid exposure during lightning storms, and ensure safe shelter during strong winds and hail activity.
