Widespread dry spell has taken hold of a vast majority of the State during the critical mid-monsoon month of July. The latest assessment by the Meteorological Centre, Bhopal, indicates that a significant total of 34 out of the state’s 55 districts are currently experiencing a complete dry spell, leaving key agricultural belts without seasonal precipitation. The remaining 21 districts, primarily situated across the southern and eastern horizons, are limited to isolated rain or drizzle, according to the official information. This skewed distribution comes despite the presence of multiple active synoptic meteorological features affecting the subcontinent. The primary monsoon trough at mean sea level is currently positioned well away from the state’s core, passing through Jammu, Dehradun, Barabanki, Patna, Bankura, and Canning, before extending southeastwards towards the Eastcentral Bay of Bengal. Simultaneously, an upper air cyclonic circulation over the North Bay of Bengal and adjoining South Bangladesh is expected to develop into a low-pressure area soon. Regional systems, including a persisting cyclonic circulation over north Gujarat and an active western disturbance over North Pakistan and Jammu, continue to influence wind patterns, but have failed to deliver comprehensive rainfall to the state’s central and western districts. The dry conditions follow a 24-hour period where the weather remained entirely dry across all divisions, with no rainfall recorded at any station. Despite the lack of rain, high-velocity gusty winds swept across several urban areas, driven by regional pressure variations.

 

Ujjain and Indore registered the strongest peak wind gusts at 50 kilometres per hour, closely followed by Bhopal at 46 kilometres per hour, while Hoshangabad, Agar, Sehore, and Jabalpur experienced wind speeds ranging between 41 and 43 kilometres per hour. Temperature levels across the State have responded to the lack of rainfall, showing notable departures from seasonal normals. Maximum temperatures climbed appreciably above normal by 3.3 degrees Celsius in the Narmadapuram division, while the highest absolute maximum temperature in the state reached 36.9 degrees Celsius in Gwalior. Conversely, minimum temperatures were recorded above normal by over 4 degrees Celsius in the Shahdol division, with the absolute lowest minimum temperature dropping to 19.6 degrees Celsius in both Khargone and Pachmarhi. Looking forward, the weather office has extended a generally cloudy but dry local forecast for Bhopal and its immediate neighbourhood, with expected maximum and minimum temperatures settling at 33 degrees Celsius and 25 degrees Celsius respectively. In light of the ongoing dry phase and strong wind warnings issued for the 21 isolated rain zones, authorities have issued structural advisories for the agricultural sector. Farmers are advised to secure crop drainage infrastructure, avoid the immediate application of open-field fertilisers or chemical sprays during windy intervals, and ensure adequate physical support to vulnerable vegetable crops and young fruit plants.