IN Adramatic escalation of monsoon activity across State, Biaora in Rajgarh district recorded an extraordinary 229.0 mm of rainfall. This marks the single highest daily rainfall measurement registered in the State so far this monsoon. Notably, this is the second consecutive day where precipitation in the State has crossed the 200 mm threshold, signalling a period of heavy downpours driven by strong synoptic weather systems. On August 9, Shyampur in Sehore recorded 210 mm of rainfall. Widespread heavy downpours across Rajgarh and Malwa belt The torrential deluge severely impacted several areas in the western and central parts of the State. Following Biaora’s recordbreaking figures, Khilchipur experienced extremely heavy rainfall at 205.0 mm, while Zirapur recorded 191.0 mm. Other regions that witnessed heavy precipitation include Rajgarh (112.0 mm), Gulana (102.0 mm), Narsingarh (95.0 mm), Pachore (93.0 mm), Kumbhraj (91.0 mm), Sarangpur (88.2 mm), Shajapur (83.0 mm), and Agar (80.0 mm). Across the State, rainfall was recorded at most places in the Bhopal, Indore, Narmadapuram, Ujjain, and Gwalior divisions, and at many places in Rewa and Jabalpur divisions. Active Synoptic Systems driving monsoon surge According to the Meteorological Centre Bhopal, the intense rainfall spell is being fuelled by multiple active weather systems. A low-pressure area over Northwest Madhya Pradesh and its neighbourhood persists, accompanied by an upper-air cyclonic circulation extending up to 5.8 km above mean sea level. Additionally, the monsoon trough passes directly through Northwest Madhya Pradesh via Bikaner, Sidhi, and Ranchi before extending into the Bay of Bengal.

 

A shear zone along Latitude 22°N across central India and a fresh cyclonic circulation forming over the Northwest Bay of Bengal are expected to keep weather conditions highly active over the coming days. Temperature drop and strong gusty winds The heavy rainfall brought a noticeable drop in daytime temperatures, particularly across western districts. Maximum temperatures fell markedly by 4.7°C in the Ujjain division and by 2.9°C in the Indore division, staying well below normal seasonal averages. Agar recorded the lowest maximum temperature in the State at 23.6°C, while Khargone registered the lowest minimum temperature at 18.4°C. High wind speeds accompanied the downpours across multiple districts. Sehore registered wind gusts up to 48 km/h, followed by Agar (44 km/h), Indore (41 km/h), Raisen (41 km/h), Datia (39 km/h), Khandwa (39 km/h), and Bhopal (37 km/h). According to Bhopal met centre, rainfall, on August 12, is expected to remain most intense in the western belt. Districts such as Neemuch, Mandsaur, Ratlam, Ujjain, Indore, Dhar, Jhabua, Alirajpur, and Barwani are forecast to receive rainfall at many places. Meanwhile, the rest of the State, including the Bhopal, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Sagar, Rewa, and Narmadapuram divisions, is set to experience precipitation at a few to isolated places. A specific warning for heavy rainfall ranging between 64.5 mm and 115.5 mm accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning is highlighted for Jhabua district in the western region. Additionally, thunderstorms, lightning activity, and gusty winds blowing at speeds of 30 to 40 km/h are predicted across the entire State.