Hail rain lash MP, alert issued in 34 districts:Strong winds expected in Gwalior, Jabalpur; hailstorm likely in 6 districts

Madhya Pradesh has been witnessing hailstorms, rain, and strong winds for the past two days due to active cyclonic circulation and a trough system. On Thursday, the weather changed in more than 15 districts, with hail in some areas and rainfall in others. In Bhopal, heavy rain occurred around 1 AM and again at 5:30 AM on Friday. The Meteorological Department has issued an alert for hailstorms and rain in 34 districts, including Gwalior and Jabalpur. Meteorologists say the cyclonic and trough systems are currently active over central Madhya Pradesh. In the next 24 hours, hailstorms are likely in Seoni, Mandla, Balaghat, Datia, Niwari, and Tikamgarh. In the remaining 28 districts, lightning, thunder, strong winds, and scattered rainfall are expected. Bhopal may remain cloudy. Thursday saw strong winds and rain On Thursday night, the weather changed, bringing heavy rain and storms across several districts. Hailstorms caused damage to crops, and a drop in temperature was recorded. Damage to wheat crop in Dhar In Dhar, around 10:35 PM on Thursday, lightning and thunder were followed by rain. This unseasonal rainfall is feared to damage ripe wheat crops in the fields. In Agar Malwa, a dust storm began around 8 PM, followed by rain with thunder lasting about 45 minutes. While it brought relief from heat, it also disrupted normal life. In Damoh’s Tendukheda block, heavy rain occurred around 8:30 PM for nearly half an hour. Strong winds earlier had disrupted power supply in several areas. Woman dies due to lightning in Khargone New system likely from March 22 Senior meteorologist Dr. Divya E. Surendran said, New Western Disturbance will become active from March 22, potentially affecting North-West India. However, it is expected to be weaker than the current system, with a clearer picture likely in the next 1–2 days. Weather pattern: February vs March Heat to return after March 22 Once the current system weakens, intense heat is expected to return from March 22. The last week of March could see very high temperatures. Historical data shows that March in Madhya Pradesh typically has hot days and relatively cooler nights. Day temperatures in cities like Bhopal, Indore, and Ujjain may cross 40°C, while night temperatures are expected between 14°C and 20°C. In Narmadapuram, temperatures have already crossed 40°C for three consecutive days. Heatwave expected in April-May Meteorologists predict a heatwave lasting 15–20 days during April and May. In the second week of March, Narmadapuram already experienced severe heatwave conditions for three days. The Meteorological Department indicates that heatwave effects will begin to appear from the last week of March. Weather trends in 5 major cities Bhopal: Hot days with rain
March in Bhopal typically brings hot days along with occasional rain. The summer season begins this month, causing both day and night temperatures to rise. On March 30, 2021, the maximum temperature reached 41°C. Historically, on March 9, 1979, the night temperature dropped to 6.1°C. Between 2014 and 2023, maximum temperatures ranged between 38°C and 41°C in most years. Indore: Rising heat trend
In Indore, heat intensifies in March. The highest recorded temperature is 41.1°C on March 28, 1892. Night temperatures have dropped to as low as 5°C (March 4, 1898). The city also records about one inch of rain in 24 hours and around two inches for the month, with rainfall occurring for 2–3 days. Gwalior: Mixed weather pattern
Gwalior experiences a mix of heat, cold, and rain in March. The highest temperature recorded is 41.8°C (March 31, 2022), while the lowest is 5.4°C (March 1, 1972). In 2015, over 5 inches of rainfall was recorded during the month, with a single-day record of about 2 inches on March 12, 1915. Jabalpur: Cooler nights
Jabalpur sees cooler nights in March, averaging around 15°C, while daytime temperatures range between 36°C and 40°C. The highest recorded day temperature is 41.2°C (March 31, 2017), and the lowest night temperature is 3.3°C (March 4, 1898). Winter rain (Mawatha) is also common, with rainfall recorded in 9 of the last 10 years. Ujjain: Hot days with rain spells
Ujjain experiences hot days, with a record temperature of 42.5°C on March 22, 2010. The lowest night temperature recorded is 4.6°C (March 1, 1971). In recent years, daytime temperatures have ranged between 36°C and 42°C. The city also records rainfall, including nearly 2 inches in a single day on March 17, 2013.