Bhopal, May 10: The India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) Bhopal centre has forecast thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds with speeds of 40-50 kmph in several districts of Madhya Pradesh, even as temperatures are expected to rise gradually over the next few days. Districts likely to witness thunderstorms and gusty winds include Raisen, Narmadapuram, Betul, Harda, Burhanpur, Khandwa, Anuppur, Shahdol, Umaria, Dindori, Jabalpur, Narsinghpur, Chhindwara, Seoni, Mandla, Balaghat, Sagar and Pandhurna. Most other districts are expected to remain dry. According to the forecast, maximum temperatures are likely to rise by 2 to 4 degrees Celsius over the next four days, signalling the possible onset of heatwave conditions in parts of the state.
In Bhopal, the forecast for May 11 predicts partly cloudy skies, with the maximum and minimum temperatures likely to hover around 42 degrees Celsius and 25 degrees Celsius respectively. Citizens have been advised to remain hydrated, avoid prolonged exposure during peak afternoon hours and take precautions against thunderstorms and lightning strikes. Farmers have also been advised to postpone irrigation and chemical spraying activities, protect crops from strong winds and ensure that livestock are properly sheltered. The weather office said Madhya Pradesh witnessed contrasting weather conditions during the past 24 hours, with rainfall recorded in parts of Shahdol, Bhopal, Narmadapuram, Gwalior, Jabalpur and Sagar divisions, while most other regions remained dry. The Meteorological Centre in Bhopal reported that maximum temperatures recorded little change across the state. However, temperatures remained below normal by 1.8 to 2.9 degrees Celsius in divisions including Gwalior, Rewa, Jabalpur, Shahdol and Sagar.