MP Heatwave Red Alert: 4 Districts Cross 46°C as Temperatures Soar

Severe heatwave conditions trigger red alert in Niwari, Chhatarpur, Panna, and Satna; IMD advises against outdoor exposure between noon and 3 PM.

Even before the formal start of the nine-day Nautapa period, large parts of Madhya Pradesh are reeling under an intense heat spell, forcing the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue a red alert for four districts on Friday.

Temperatures are already pushing past the 46-degree Celsius mark in Niwari, Chhatarpur, Panna, and Satna. Officials at the IMD Bhopam confirmed that the mercury is expected to remain above this threshold for the next 72 hours at least. The morning hours themselves are brutal—between 9 AM and 11 AM, the temperature is touching 38 to 40 degrees across several city centres.

Red Alert in Four Districts

The IMD has painted the northern and eastern belts of the state in deep red. Niwari, Chhatarpur, Panna, and Satna are under a red alert for severe heatwave conditions, with the maximum temperature likely to stay above 46 degrees. This is the highest category of warning, indicating a very high risk of heat illness for all age groups.

A broader orange alert has been issued for 21 districts, including Gwalior, Bhind, Morena, Sheopur, and Shivpuri. Meanwhile, a yellow alert is in place for 20 districts, including the state capital Bhopal, Ujjain, and Raisen, where temperatures are hovering between 43 and 45 degrees. Officials added that even in districts without a direct heatwave warning, like Indore and Dewas, humid conditions are making the heat unbearable.

IMD Advisory for Public

Weather scientist H.S. Pandey told reporters that the impact will be most severe between noon and 3 PM. "People should avoid stepping out unless absolutely necessary," he said. The department has issued a standard advisory: wear light-coloured cotton clothing, stay hydrated throughout the day, and pay special attention to children and the elderly.

Local authorities in the red-zone districts have been asked to ensure power supply for cooling centres and maintain water availability in public spaces.

Nine-Day Nautapa Spell Ahead

The situation is unlikely to ease anytime soon. According to the IMD forecast, this severe heat spell will remain at its peak for the next 10 days, until May 31. The Nautapa period, which begins on May 25, is traditionally the hottest phase of the summer in central India. This year, it is arriving on the back of an already scorching May.

Officials indicated that major cities like Bhopal, Indore, Gwalior, and Jabalpur will see no relief from the intense sun during this period.

Historical Trends in Key Cities

Looking at the data from the past decade, this isn't entirely unprecedented but remains dangerous. In Bhopal, the record for May still stands at 46.7 degrees Celsius from 2016. Interestingly, the city has also seen a trend of pre-monsoon showers in May—every year from 2014 to 2023 recorded some rainfall. No such relief is forecast this week.

In Gwalior, which historically acts as a heat furnace for the state, the mercury has crossed 47 degrees once and crossed 46 degrees three times in the last ten years. The all-time record for the city remains 48.3 degrees, recorded on May 30, 1947. Jabalpur and Ujjain are also recording temperatures 4-5 degrees above normal for this time of the season.

Looking Ahead

With no western disturbance in sight to break the pattern, the IMD has reiterated that the next 10 days will test the state's resilience. Officials are monitoring the situation hour by hour, but for now, the message from Bhopal's weather centre is clear: stay indoors during the afternoon, keep drinking water, and do not ignore signs of heat exhaustion.

16 Cities Cross 45°C

At least 16 weather stations across India recorded maximum temperatures of 45 degrees Celsius or more on Sunday, as a harsh heatwave tightened its grip over large swathes of the country.

The highest was logged at Banda in Uttar Pradesh, where the mercury touched 47.6 degrees. That is 5.4 degrees above the long-term normal for this time of year, according to data released by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The readings are based on observations made on April 27, 2025.

Rajasthan Among Worst-Hit

Rajasthan continued to bear the brunt of the extreme heat. Jaisalmer reported 46.4 degrees – a departure of nearly five degrees from the 1991-2020 baseline. Kota recorded 45.7 degrees, while Churu and Phalodi were not far behind at 45.3 and 45.4 respectively.

Officials said the absence of any significant western disturbance over northwest India has allowed dry, hot air to prevail across the region. There is also little cloud cover, which has caused daytime temperatures to spike sharply.

Central India Feels the Burn

The heat is not limited to the northern plains. Several stations in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh also breached the 45-degree mark.

Amravati in eastern Maharashtra recorded 46.6 degrees, while Wardha and Akola reported 46.5 and 46.3 respectively. Adilabad in Telangana touched 45.3. In Madhya Pradesh, Khajuraho – famous for its temple complex – recorded exactly 46 degrees.

Locals and tourists in these areas have been struggling with the daytime conditions. According to people familiar with the situation, outdoor activity has visibly thinned after 11 am in most towns.

IMD’s Baseline and What Is ‘Normal’

The IMD defines “normal” based on a 30-year average from 1991 to 2020. Any reading that exceeds this by 4.5 degrees or more falls under the severe heatwave category in the plains.

In most of the 16 stations listed, the departure from normal ranged between 2.2 and 5.4 degrees. At Jaisalmer, the 4.9-degree departure is notably high even by April standards, which are typically the hottest pre-monsoon months.

Health and Power Concerns

Officials have not yet released any heat-related casualty figures, but local authorities in affected districts have begun issuing advisories. Residents are being asked to avoid stepping out between noon and 3 pm, and to stay hydrated.

Power grids in parts of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh are under strain due to the increased load from cooling appliances. Sources familiar with ground-level conditions said some rural areas experienced brief outages during peak afternoon hours, though restoration has been prompt so far.

Schools in a handful of districts have adjusted their timings, starting early and closing by lunch.

No Immediate Relief in Sight

The IMD has indicated that similar conditions are likely to persist over the next 48 to 72 hours. There is no forecast of any large-scale thunderstorm activity that could bring down the mercury.

Weather analysts tracking the situation said the intensity may ease slightly towards the end of the week, but only marginally. Until then, residents across north, northwest, and parts of central India will have to brace for more days of severe heat.

The data, which was compiled by IMD and shared late Sunday evening, serves as a stark reminder that April 2025 is on track to be among the hotter months in recent years.

Khajuraho Sizzles at 46°C, Breaks 10-Year Record as Heatwave Grips Madhya Pradesh

Mercury crosses 44°C in 13 cities

The tourist town of Khajuraho recorded a maximum temperature of 46 degrees Celsius on Monday, its highest in a decade, as an intense heatwave tightened its grip over large parts of Madhya Pradesh. Officials said the day temperature at the UNESCO World Heritage site was the hottest for April in ten years. The neighbouring town of Naugaon in Chhatarpur district followed closely, recording 45.5 degrees Celsius, making it the second warmest location in the state.

Heatwave and rain alerts issued for Tuesday

The India Meteorological Department’s Bhopal centre has issued a mixed warning for Tuesday. Four districts – Chhindwara, Pandhurna, Seoni, Mandla and Balaghat – remain under a heatwave alert. At the same time, 12 districts across northern and eastern MP are likely to see thunderstorms and rainfall. These include Gwalior, Sheopur, Morena, Bhind, Datia, Shivpuri, Niwari, Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur, Panna, Satna and Rewa.

Officials said a cyclonic circulation and an active trough line are driving this unusual weather pattern, where extreme heat and rain are expected to co-exist until May 1. Some relief from the heatwave is expected only after April 28.

All-time record in sight for Khajuraho

The 46-degree reading has already broken a ten-year record for Khajuraho, but older data suggests the all-time high for the town could be under threat. According to IMD records, the highest-ever April temperature for Khajuraho was recorded on April 29, 1993, when the mercury touched 46.9 degrees Celsius. If the current spell of dry heat continues for another two days, that 33-year-old record may also fall.

Ground impact: wall collapse claims life in Damoh

The unpredictable weather has already turned fatal in at least one instance. A woman died in Damoh district on Monday evening after a kutcha wall collapsed during a sudden spell of strong winds and rain. The victim, identified as 48-year-old Ragini Patariya, was a resident of Mahua Kheda village under the Raneh police station area. Local sources said she had stepped out to cover a stack of cow dung cakes when the wall gave way. Damoh has been among the districts witnessing fluctuating weather over the past 48 hours.

Heat safety advisory issued

With temperatures hovering between 42 and 46 degrees across most urban centres, the IMD has also issued a heat safety advisory. Residents have been asked to drink sufficient water through the day, avoid prolonged sun exposure during afternoon hours, and wear light-coloured cotton clothing. Special attention has been advised for children and the elderly. Bhopal and Gwalior both recorded 43.4 degrees on Monday, while Indore touched 42.0, Ujjain 42.4 and Jabalpur 42.7 degrees Celsius.

April heat trends show rising intensity

Meteorologists point out that April and May are the two primary summer months for Madhya Pradesh, much like December-January for winter and July-August for the monsoon. Data from the past decade shows that the second half of April typically sees a sharp rise in temperatures, often breaking records towards month end.

In Bhopal, the highest April temperature ever recorded remains 44.4 degrees Celsius from April 29, 1996. Gwalior, which tends to run hotter than other cities, once touched 45 degrees in the last ten years. Its all-time April high of 46.2 degrees was recorded on April 28, 1958. Ujjain, meanwhile, had recorded 45.2 degrees on April 18, 2010, with the overall record for the city currently standing at 48.8 degrees from last year.

What to expect over the next four days

The IMD expects the ongoing heatwave to persist across central and eastern parts of the state for at least another 48 hours. After that, the cyclonic circulation may trigger scattered showers and provide marginal relief. Officials have, however, cautioned that the drop in temperature is likely to be temporary. The core summer months of May could once again see a return to severe heatwave conditions across the Bundelkhand and Gwalior-Chambal regions.