Madhya Pradesh is witnessing a weak monsoon spell, with the state recording a 17% rainfall deficit so far this season. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the state has received only 268.1 mm (10.5 inches) of rainfall against the normal 323.2 mm (12.7 inches). Although intermittent showers have continued across several regions, widespread heavy rainfall has remained absent for the past 13 days, raising concerns over agriculture, water availability and rising electricity demand.

The IMD has issued a heavy rainfall alert for Morena, Bhind, Damoh and Katni districts on Tuesday. Light to moderate rain is expected in several other districts, including Bhopal, Sehore, Raisen, Rajgarh, Vidisha, Indore, Dhar, Jhabua, Alirajpur, Burhanpur, Barwani, Khandwa and Khargone. Meanwhile, Neemuch, Mandsaur and Ratlam are likely to remain dry.

Rainfall Deficit Widens Across the State

Despite occasional showers in the past few days, rainfall has remained well below seasonal expectations. Weather officials said the scattered rain has not been sufficient to offset the overall deficit.

Until early July, western Madhya Pradesh—including Bhopal, Indore, Ujjain, Narmadapuram, Gwalior and Chambal divisions—was recording surplus rainfall. However, by July 20, the region had slipped into a 12% rainfall deficit.

Eastern Madhya Pradesh, covering Jabalpur, Rewa, Shahdol and Sagar divisions, is currently reporting a 17% rainfall deficit, indicating that the weak monsoon has affected almost the entire state.

39 Districts Receive Below-Normal Rainfall

Rainfall remains below normal in 39 districts of Madhya Pradesh.

Districts such as Jabalpur, Rewa, Satna, Sagar, Chhindwara, Mandla, Damoh, Tikamgarh, Morena, Dhar, Barwani, Vidisha, Raisen, Ratlam, Shivpuri, Sheopur and Alirajpur continue to report rainfall below the seasonal average.

On the other hand, 16 districts, including Dewas, Bhopal, Indore, Sehore, Ujjain, Harda, Rajgarh, Neemuch, Burhanpur, Khandwa and Khargone, have received above-normal rainfall despite the statewide deficit.

Dewas Emerges as Wettest District

Among all districts, Dewas has recorded the highest rainfall surplus, receiving 102% more rain than normal, with nearly 18 inches recorded so far.

Harda has received around 15 inches, while Indore and Sehore have recorded approximately 14 inches each. Bhopal has received about 13.1 inches of rainfall.

In contrast, Alirajpur remains the driest district, recording only 2.25 inches of rainfall—74% below normal, the lowest in Madhya Pradesh.

Strong Weather System Expected Later This Month

Weather expert Shailendra Kumar Nayak said a stronger monsoon system is likely to become active during the last week of July, which could bring widespread rainfall across the state.

Currently, weak weather systems around Madhya Pradesh are producing only scattered showers, preventing sustained heavy rainfall over large areas.

Power Demand Rises Amid Weak Monsoon

The prolonged dry spell and higher temperatures have also led to increased electricity consumption across the state, as households and businesses continue to rely heavily on cooling appliances. The weak monsoon has delayed the usual drop in power demand that typically accompanies widespread rainfall.

July Remains Crucial for Madhya Pradesh

July is traditionally the wettest month for Madhya Pradesh, contributing nearly 40% of the state's annual monsoon rainfall.

Historically, Bhopal receives around 14 inches of rainfall during July, while Jabalpur averages over 17 inches, making it the wettest major city in the state during the monsoon season. However, this year's subdued rainfall has kept seasonal totals below normal across most regions.

With forecasts indicating stronger monsoon activity in the coming days, authorities and farmers will be hoping for widespread rainfall to reduce the deficit and improve water availability across Madhya Pradesh.

Chhattisgarh witnessed an unusual pause in monsoon activity as no rainfall was recorded anywhere in the state during the past 24 hours, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The temporary lull has pushed the state's seasonal rainfall deficit to 26% below normal since June 1, raising concerns among farmers during the crucial kharif sowing season.

Weather experts attributed the dry spell to a "break monsoon" phase, a condition in which the monsoon trough weakens and rain-bearing systems move away from central India, resulting in significantly reduced rainfall across the region.

However, the IMD has predicted that rainfall activity is likely to revive from July 15, with the possibility of heavy rain, thunderstorms and lightning in several parts of the state over the next two days.

Break Monsoon Conditions

Meteorologists said the current weather pattern is linked to the weakening of the active monsoon system. At present, the monsoon trough extends from Sri Ganganagar to Manipur, while a cyclonic circulation over the Bay of Bengal and Bangladesh is expected to strengthen weather activity over central India.

As these systems become more active, rainfall is expected to increase across Chhattisgarh beginning Tuesday night and continue through July 15 and 16.

Rainfall Deficit Remains a Concern

Despite intermittent spells of heavy rain in recent weeks, the state has received 26% less rainfall than normal so far this monsoon season.

Out of 32 districts, 16 continue to face rainfall deficiency, while 14 districts have recorded near-normal rainfall. Only Sarangarh-Bilaigarh falls in the category of receiving exceptionally high rainfall.

The district has received 462.5 mm of rain, nearly 74% above its seasonal normal of 265.7 mm. Mungeli has also recorded 21% above-normal rainfall, while districts including Balod, Balodabazar, Balrampur, Dantewada, Janjgir-Champa, Mahasamund and Raipur have reported rainfall close to normal levels.

Impact on Agriculture

The slowdown in rainfall comes during one of the most critical periods for kharif cultivation, particularly paddy transplantation and early crop growth.

Agricultural experts say prolonged dry conditions could affect sowing operations in districts already facing rainfall shortages. Adequate rainfall over the next few days will be crucial to restore soil moisture and support crop development.

Temperature Update

With rainfall absent across the state, temperatures have also risen.

• Highest maximum temperature: 35.2°C in Raipur and Bilaspur

• Lowest minimum temperature: 23.9°C in Ambikapur

The rise in daytime temperatures has added to humidity levels across several districts.

Raipur Weather Forecast

For July 14, Raipur is expected to witness partly cloudy to cloudy skies.

• Maximum Temperature: Around 35°C

• Minimum Temperature: Around 27°C

The IMD has indicated the possibility of light rain during the next 24 hours, with rainfall activity likely to intensify from Wednesday.

With monsoon systems expected to regain strength over eastern India, weather officials remain optimistic that Chhattisgarh will receive widespread rainfall over the coming days, offering much-needed relief to farmers and helping reduce the seasonal rainfall deficit.