MP Weather Alert: Rain lashes Gwalior and 10 other districts; Heatwave persists in Bhopal and Indore

The India Meteorological Department has issued a fresh alert for thunderstorms and rainfall across 11 districts of Madhya Pradesh, including Gwalior and Rewa, even as major cities like Bhopal and Indore brace for rising temperatures.

Central India’s weather continues to remain in a state of flux as a persistent Western Disturbance, coupled with a cyclonic circulation, triggered another spell of erratic weather across Madhya Pradesh. On Thursday, the regional Meteorological Centre (IMD) issued an alert for Gwalior and ten other districts, predicting light to moderate rainfall accompanied by gusty winds.

While the northern and eastern belts of the state are likely to witness rain, the central and western regions—including capital city Bhopal and the commercial hub Indore—are expected to see a sharp rise in mercury levels. For the past week, the state has been caught between two extremes, with some districts reporting waterlogged streets while others record temperatures nearing 43°C.

Active weather systems over MP

According to senior officials at the IMD, the current instability is the result of multiple systems working simultaneously. A cyclonic circulation is currently positioned over the central part of the state, while another resides over the northern stretch. Additionally, a trough line passing through the eastern districts is pulling in moisture, leading to the continuous seven-day streak of pre-monsoon activity.

Forecasters indicate that these conditions will persist for the next 48 hours. "The Western Disturbance remains active, which will keep the sky overcast and lead to thunder-showers in the Gwalior-Chambal and Rewa divisions," a department official stated on Thursday morning.

Alert for 11 districts

The weather office has specifically flagged 11 districts for immediate caution. Residents in Gwalior, Morena, Bhind, Datia, Niwari, Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur, Panna, Satna, Rewa, and Mauganj have been advised to stay alert for sudden wind gusts.

Local reports from Wednesday evening already showed the impact of these systems, with towns like Balaghat and Pithampur witnessing heavy winds and localized flooding on arterial roads. In Multai, residents woke up to a significant dip in temperature following a sharp spell of rain.

Intense heat in Bhopal-Indore

Despite the rain in the north, the heat remains a dominant factor in 44 other districts. In Indore, Ujjain, and Bhopal, the "May heat" is beginning to peak. While temperatures stayed below 40°C during the first week of the month due to cloud cover, the mercury is now expected to climb to 43°C in regions like Ratlam, Neemach, and Mandsaur.

Historically, May is the hottest month for these cities. Bhopal had previously hit a record 46.7°C in 2016, and Indore has seen the mercury cross the 46°C mark in the late 90s. For now, the humidity brought by the nearby rain systems is making the heat feel more oppressive for the local populace.

Brief respite before next system

The current "see-saw" weather is expected to stabilize briefly on May 9 and 10, during which the state will likely see a uniform heatwave. However, the respite from rain will be short-lived. A fresh weather system is projected to activate by the evening of May 10, which might trigger another round of unseasonal showers by early next week.

Farmers in the affected 11 districts have expressed concern over the wind speed, which often damages standing crops or produce kept in open mandis. Local authorities have suggested covering food grains to prevent damage from the sudden showers expected late this evening.