MP sizzles under severe heat:Asphalt melts on Bhopal roads; 12 cities record over 43°C

Severe heat continues across Madhya Pradesh, with temperatures crossing 43°C in 12 cities on Friday. Khandwa recorded the highest at 45.1°C, while roads in Bhopal saw asphalt melting due to the extreme heat. The IMD has issued a heatwave alert for 37 districts on Saturday and an orange alert for severe heatwave in Indore, Ujjain, Ratlam, Dhar, and Dewas. Heatwave conditions are expected in districts including Bhopal, Gwalior, Morena, Bhind, Shivpuri, Vidisha, Narmadapuram, Burhanpur, Khandwa, Khargone, Barwani, Neemuch, Mandsaur, Chhatarpur, Sagar, Damoh, and Mandla. Districts to experience heat Indore, Ujjain, and Mandla are also likely to witness warm nights, with night temperatures remaining unusually high and maximum temperatures crossing 44°C. Intense heat is also expected in Jabalpur, Satna, Rewa, Sidhi, Singrauli, Katni, Shahdol, Balaghat, Chhindwara, and Betul, though no heatwave alert has been issued there. Hailstorm and rain bring sudden weather change After a scorching day on Friday, weather conditions changed in several parts of the state by evening. Katni witnessed hailstorms and strong winds, while rain and gusty winds in Umaria soaked wheat stored at procurement centres. Similar weather changes were reported in Sagar, Damoh, Jabalpur, Chhindwara, Seoni, Shahdol, Guna, Shivpuri, Vidisha, Dindori, Raisen, and Panna. Among other major temperature readings, Shajapur recorded 44.6°C, Khargone 44.2°C, and Ratlam-Naugawan 44°C. In the five major cities, Bhopal recorded 42.8°C, Indore 41.8°C, Gwalior 40.9°C, Ujjain 42.5°C, and Jabalpur 41.8°C. Warning not to leave homes during the day Meteorologist HS Pandey said that the effect will be more severe from 12 PM to 3 PM. In such a situation, people should only leave their homes if necessary. For the next 4 days, i.e., May 16, 17, 18, and 19, most parts of the state will experience severe heat. Rainfall on 12 out of 14 days in May In Madhya Pradesh, the period of storms and rain started from April 30. It rained continuously for 11 days, until May 10, in the state. Sometimes the effect of Western Disturbance was seen, and sometimes that of cyclones and troughs. Due to this, it rained in the first week of May. The spell of storms and rain stopped on May 11. But on May 12, 13, 14, and 15, the weather changed again. Thus, out of 15 days in May, 13 days were affected by storms, rain, or hailstorms. There is no rain alert anywhere on Saturday. Such a trend in 5 major cities of MP in May Bhopal sees both heat and rain in May Bhopal recorded a peak temperature of 46.7°C in 2016. Rain has been recorded every May from 2014 to 2023, with over 2 inches falling in 2021 and 2023. A rain alert has also been issued this May. Indore recorded 3 inches of rain last year In Indore, the temperature touched a record 46.6°C on May 31, 1994. The city has witnessed rain in May almost every year, with nearly 3 inches recorded in 2023 and rainfall reported nine times between 2014 and 2023. Gwalior crosses 48°C, also gets rainfall Gwalior remains among the hottest cities in the state, with a record 48.3°C recorded on May 30, 1947. In the last decade, temperatures crossed 47°C once and 46°C three times. The city also receives May rainfall, including 41.9 mm in 24 hours in 1953 and nearly 2.5 inches in 2023. Jabalpur records heat and consistent May rain Jabalpur touched a record 46.7°C on May 25, 1954, while temperatures crossed 45°C three times in the past decade. Rain has been recorded every May from 2014 to 2023, including over 3 inches in 2021 and around 2 inches last year. Ujjain also witnesses heat and showers Ujjain recorded a high of 46°C on May 22, 2010. Between 2014 and 2023, temperatures crossed 45°C once, though last year the maximum remained below 42.4°C. The city also receives May rainfall, including nearly three-fourths of an inch last year.