Monsoon likely to pick up pace as rain and gusty winds bring some relief from rising temperatures across the state.

The weather across Chhattisgarh is set for a prolonged spell of disruption, with the meteorological department forecasting gusty winds, lightning, and scattered rainfall over the next five days.

Officials have warned that wind speeds could touch 40 to 50 kilometres per hour in several districts, accompanied by thunderstorms. While the rain is expected to offer some respite from the prevailing heat, no significant drop in daytime temperatures has been predicted just yet.

Gusty spell ahead

According to the local weather bulletin, the monsoon trough is likely to become more active, leading to this shift. The influence will be felt across northern and central parts of the state, including Raipur, Bilaspur, and Jagdalpur.

"Thunderstorms accompanied by gusty winds are very likely at isolated places," an official release from the meteorological centre stated. The warning remains in place for most districts until the middle of next week.

Temperatures remain high

Despite the cloud cover and rain activity, heat conditions persist in several pockets. Data from the past 24 hours shows that Raipur’s Mana area recorded the highest maximum temperature at 42.6 degrees Celsius.

In contrast, the lowest minimum temperature was logged at Pendra Road, settling at 23.2 degrees Celsius. This wide variation indicates the current instability in the atmosphere, which is triggering the afternoon storms.

Raipur forecast for Sunday

For the capital city today (June 8), the sky is expected to remain partly cloudy. A dust storm or thunderstorm with light rain is likely towards late afternoon or evening.

The maximum temperature here is expected to hover around 42 degrees Celsius, while the night temperature may dip to around 29 degrees Celsius. Residents stepping out should remain cautious of sudden gusts and poor visibility during a downpour.

Monsoon momentum

With this system becoming active, officials believe the southwest monsoon’s progress could speed up over the region. While Chhattisgarh usually sees full-scale monsoon arrival by mid-June, these pre-monsoon thundershowers—locally known as 'Mango Showers'—are typical for this time of year.

Looking ahead

The forecast suggests the choppy conditions will persist for at least five days. Farmers and residents in low-lying areas have been advised to remain cautious of lightning strikes and uprooted trees due to high winds. Power disruptions are also possible in some rural belts if the intensity picks up.

The meteorological department has said it will continue to monitor the wind patterns and release updates if the wind speed crosses the 50kmph mark.