The monsoon is expected to arrive in Madhya Pradesh around June 14-15, according to the Meteorological Department. After showing increased activity from Wednesday, the monsoon will likely enter through eastern districts including Mandla, Seoni, Dindori, Balaghat and Anuppur, which are expected to receive the heaviest rainfall.
The rains are predicted to cover the entire state within 5-6 days of arrival, by around June 20. This year's monsoon onset appears slightly earlier than last year's June 21 arrival.
Meanwhile, the state continues to experience intense heat, with six cities recording temperatures above 44 degrees Celsius on Wednesday.
Nowgong in Chhatarpur district was the hottest at 44.8 degrees, followed by Guna, Gwalior, Shajapur, Shivpuri and Tikamgarh. Major cities like Bhopal, Indore, Ujjain and Jabalpur also saw temperatures between 40-43 degrees.
The Met Department has issued heatwave alerts for Gwalior, Chambal, Ujjain and Sagar divisions, with similar conditions expected on June 12. Some relief may come from pre-monsoon showers expected from June 13 onwards.
The month of May saw unusual weather patterns across the state, with storms, rain and hailstorms occurring daily in some district. Indore broke a 139-year record with 114.8 mm of rainfall in May, while Ujjain set a new all-time May record with 111.8 mm.
Remarkably, 53 of the state's 54 districts received some rainfall during May. The month was also relatively cooler compared to April, with no city crossing 43 degrees, a significant drop from April's highs of 45 degrees.