Monsoon activity is expected to intensify across Madhya Pradesh on Friday, with the Jabalpur, Rewa, Shahdol and Sagar divisions likely to witness heavy rainfall. The weather system over the Bay of Bengal has strengthened and is expected to keep the monsoon trough active over the state.

According to the weather department, 12 districts could receive more than 4 inches of rain in the next 24 hours. These include Sagar, Narmadapuram, Narsinghpur, Balaghat, Mandla, Dindori, Anuppur, Shahdol, Katni, Mauganj, Sidhi and Singrauli.

Heavy Rain in Eastern MP

The eastern parts of Madhya Pradesh are expected to see the strongest rainfall activity.

Apart from the 12 districts under the heavier alert, several other parts of the state may receive moderate to light rain, with isolated spells of intense showers.

Bhopal, Raisen, Sehore, Rajgarh, Vidisha, Indore, Dhar, Alirajpur, Burhanpur, Barwani, Khandwa, Khargone, Jhabua, Ujjain, Neemuch, Agar-Malwa, Mandsaur, Shajapur, Dewas, Ratlam, Betul, Harda, Gwalior, Guna, Shivpuri, Datia, Ashoknagar, Morena, Bhind, Sheopur, Jabalpur, Chhindwara, Seoni, Pandhurna, Rewa, Satna, Maihar, Umaria, Panna, Damoh, Chhatarpur, Tikamgarh and Niwari may also receive rainfall.

Depression Drives Monsoon Activity

Weather expert Shailendra Kumar Nayak said a low-pressure area formed over the Bay of Bengal on the morning of August 12 and intensified into a depression on August 13.

The system is moving towards the northwest, in the direction of West Bengal and Jharkhand.

Its influence is expected to keep the monsoon trough active, resulting in another spell of rain across Madhya Pradesh over the next few days. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is possible in parts of eastern Madhya Pradesh.

Rainfall on Thursday also brought relief from humid conditions in several areas after a prolonged break in monsoon activity.

MP Records 20.7 Inches Rain

Madhya Pradesh has received around 524.8 mm (20.7 inches) of rainfall so far this monsoon season, according to the state weather centre.

The figure is around 2.8 inches below the normal rainfall of 597 mm (23.5 inches) for the period, representing an overall rainfall deficit of about 12 per cent.

The eastern part of the state has received around 20 per cent less rainfall, while the western region is around 5 per cent below its average.

The Jabalpur, Rewa, Sagar and Shahdol divisions have recorded a rainfall deficit of up to around 19 per cent.

12 Districts Above Normal

Despite the overall deficit, some districts have received more rainfall than their respective averages.

These include Bhopal, Guna, Sehore, Rajgarh, Gwalior, Anuppur, Bhind, Burhanpur, Dewas, Barwani, Khandwa and Khargone.

The uneven distribution of rainfall remains a feature of this year's monsoon, with some districts reporting substantial deficits while others have received above-normal precipitation.

What to Expect in Bhopal, Indore

Bhopal and Indore are likely to receive light to moderate rainfall, with isolated heavier showers possible.

The renewed monsoon activity could bring temporary relief from humidity, while temperatures are expected to remain relatively moderate because of cloud cover and rainfall.

Historical Rainfall Records

Madhya Pradesh's major cities have recorded some exceptionally heavy August rainfall in the past.

Bhopal: The city's highest August rainfall was recorded in 2006, when around 35 inches fell during the month. The highest 24-hour rainfall was nearly 12 inches on August 14, 2006.

Indore: August rainfall reached around 28 inches in 1944. The city's highest 24-hour August rainfall was around 10.5 inches on August 22, 2020.

Gwalior: The city recorded around 8.5 inches of rain within 24 hours on August 10, 1927. Its highest monthly August rainfall was around 28 inches in 1916.

Jabalpur: The city recorded around 44 inches of rainfall in August 1923. The month also saw an extremely heavy 24-hour spell of around 13 inches.

Ujjain: Around 35 inches of rainfall was recorded in August 2006, its highest monthly August total. The city also recorded around 12 inches in 24 hours during the same month.

Rain Activity Likely to Continue

With the depression moving towards central India and the monsoon trough remaining active, rainfall activity is expected to continue across Madhya Pradesh over the coming days.

The eastern districts are likely to remain the main focus of heavy rainfall, while other parts of the state could see intermittent showers. Residents in areas under the heavier rainfall alert have been advised to remain cautious, particularly near waterlogged areas and during periods of intense rain.