Indoreans feel discomfort as early morning temp rises, IMD flags below-normal monsoon for MP

Indore: The city saw a sharp spike in early hours heat on Monday, with the temperature at 8:30 am rising to 30.4 degree Celsius from 26 degree Celsius a few days a ago, signalling the fading of its usual cool start.The city witnessed a steady rise in overall temperature, with the maximum reaching 38.8 degree Celsius, one degree above normal, indicating intensifying summer conditions. The minimum settled at 19.6 degree Celsius, slightly below normal, while by 5:30 pm, the temperature stood at 37.6 degree Celsius, reflecting sustained daytime heat.Ratlam recorded the highest day temperature across Madhya Pradesh at 41.2 degrees Celsius, followed by Dhar at 40.4 degrees Celsius, Khargone at 40 degree Celsius, Ujjain at 39 degrees Celsius, and Khandwa at 39.1 degrees Celsius.The rising trend prompted the India Meteorological Department to issue a heatwave alert for parts of western Madhya Pradesh, including Dhar, Khargone, and Khandwa, effective April 16. Met officials attribute the prevailing conditions to multiple synoptic systems influencing central India.The department has forecast a further rise of three to five degrees in maximum temperature over the next four days, which could push several regions into severe heatwave conditions. A weak western disturbance is likely to affect the western Himalayan region from the night of April 15, though its impact on central India is expected to be minimal.The IMD has also projected a below-normal southwest monsoon for Madhya Pradesh, with Indore and much of Central India likely to experience reduced rainfall from June to Sept.According to the long-range forecast issued on Monday, IMD Bhopal scientist Divya Surendran said that most parts of the country are showing a predominance of below-normal rainfall probability. This trend is clearly reflected over Central India, where a majority of regions fall in the below-normal category.For Madhya Pradesh, the outlook is more pronounced. Most districts, including Indore and surrounding Malwa-Nimar belt, are showing a 35 to 50 percent probability of below-normal rainfall. Only a few pockets, including parts near Bhopal-Vidisha, Seoni-Balaghat and areas along the Khargone-Khandwa border, indicate chances of near-normal rainfall, suggesting an uneven distribution across the state.Meteorological factors point to a less favourable monsoon setup. Currently, La Niña conditions over the Pacific Ocean are transitioning towards a neutral phase, which is expected to persist till June. Thereafter, there is a strong likelihood of El Niño conditions developing during the core monsoon months, a factor typically associated with weaker rainfall over India.The IMD will release updated forecasts in the coming months, including region-specific projections and onset timelines. With early signals pointing to a slightly weak monsoon, officials have advised that sectors such as agriculture, irrigation, and water management begin preparatory measures to mitigate potential impact.