Dry streak in state may end with rain respite this week

Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh weather is set to hold steady through Tuesday, with rain expected to arrive in parts of the state starting Wednesday, meteorologists said Monday.Light rain could dampen the northwestern and southeastern regions from March 18, officials with the India Meteorological Department said. More widespread downpours, laced with thunderstorms, are forecast for March 19, possibly with hail in some districts.The shift in the weather promises a cooling trend, with daytime highs dropping 3 to 5 degrees Celsius in coming days.In the capital, Monday's high of 35.2 degrees Celsius marked a 1.2-degree slide from Sunday's 36.4 degrees. Tuesday should stay clear, near 36 and 20 degrees, before clouds gather March 18-19 and light rain hits by March 20.The state stayed dry over the past day. Highs ran 1.8 to 3.9 degrees above normal across divisions like Bhopal, Indore and Rewa. Lows showed mixed shifts — down in Sagar, up in Bhopal — but mostly topped normal by 1.8 to 3.6 degrees.