IMD warns of extremely heavy rainfall in several Madhya Pradesh districts
The IMD's Bhopal centre has forecast widespread very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall across Madhya Pradesh over the next five days. Several districts are under alerts for thunderstorms, lightning and strong winds as active monsoon systems continue to influence the state
Bhopal: The India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) Bhopal centre has predicted widespread very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds reaching 40 to 50 kilometre per hour across Madhya Pradesh during the next five days starting from Wednesday, officials said.
The weather system is driven by the advancing Southwest monsoon, a seasonal trough, and an active Western disturbance currently influencing the region.
According to the Bhopal centre, significant rainfall was already recorded in several areas on July 1, with Khargone receiving 115 millimetres, Ashta 109 millimetres, Pachmarhi 88.4 millimetres, and other places like Birsinghpur, Satwas, and Balaghat also reporting substantial downpours.
Heavy rainfall has been observed in districts, including Dewas, Sehore, Harda, Narmadapuram, Shivpuri, Betul, Khandwa, Satna, and Balaghat.
For the coming days, warnings are particularly severe in several districts.
Extremely heavy rainfall is likely at isolated places in Raisen, Narmadapuram, Harda, Chhindwara, Balaghat, and Pandhurna on July 2.
Similar intense activity is expected in Barwani, Dhar, Harda, Khargone, Dewas, and Chhindwara on subsequent days.
Many other districts across Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur, Rewa, Gwalior, and Chambal divisions face alerts for heavy rainfall, thunderstorms with lightning, and strong winds.
In early night hours on July 1, moderate thunderstorms with lightning and moderate rain along with winds up to 50 kilometre per hour are likely over Sagar, Raisen, including Sanchi and Bhimbetka, Ujjain, Mahakaleshwar, Satna, Chitrakoot, Rewa, Mauganj, Chhindwara, Narsinghpur, Panna, Indore, Dewas, Dhar, including Mandu, Alirajpur, Jhabua, Sidhi, and Singrauli.
Light thunderstorms with lightning and light rain are expected over Bhopal, including Bairagarh, Vidisha, Udaygiri, Maihar, Pandhurna, Pench, Betul, Seoni, Balaghat, Mandla, Kanha, Dindori, Anuppur, including Amarkantak, Shahdol, Umaria, Bandhavgarh, Katni, Jabalpur, including Bhedaghat, Damoh, Chhatarpur, Khajuraho, Tikamgarh, Niwari, including Orchha, Datia, Bhind, Rajgarh, Shajapur, Agar, Guna, Sehore, Narmadapuram including Pachmarhi, Harda, Burhanpur, Khandwa, Khargone, Ratlam, Neemuch, Mandsaur, and Barwani including Bawangaja.
The monsoon has advanced further into parts of Madhya Pradesh, and conditions remain favourable for more progress in the coming days.
An upper air cyclonic circulation and associated troughs are contributing to the unstable weather.
The public is advised to stay indoors during thunderstorms, avoid low-lying areas prone to waterlogging, and exercise caution while travelling due to reduced visibility and strong winds.
Farmers should protect standing crops and avoid spraying pesticides during rainy spells.
Residents should keep emergency kits ready and monitor official updates from the IMD and local administration.
This spell of intense monsoon activity is expected to bring much-needed relief from heat but also raises risks of flooding, traffic disruptions, and waterborne diseases in the affected regions.