Bhopal: After enduring a prolonged spell of scorching heat with daytime temperatures consistently exceeding 40 degrees Celsius, the city can finally look forward to some relief. The regional meteorological office on Saturday indicated the possibility of thunderstorms, accompanied by lightning and gusty winds, in Bhopal and several other locations across the state on Sunday.
Temperature Drop and Current Conditions
Possibly foreshadowing the anticipated respite, the daytime temperature in the state capital dropped to 40 degrees Celsius on Saturday, which is 4.3 degrees lower than the previous day. However, the overall weather conditions remained sultry, typical of the past week, offering little immediate relief to residents.
Weather Systems at Play
According to the Met office, a western disturbance is currently prevailing as a cyclonic circulation over northwest Uttar Pradesh, between 3.1 and 5.8 km above mean sea level. It is tilting northwestwards with a trough aloft in middle and upper tropospheric westerlies, with its axis at 5.8 km above mean sea level, roughly along longitude 78 degrees east to the north of latitude 25 degrees north.
Additionally, a trough from a cyclonic circulation over central Pakistan to the northeast Arabian Sea, across west Rajasthan, Saurashtra, and Kutch, at 0.9 km above mean sea level, is also active. This trough now extends from the cyclonic circulation over central Pakistan to north coastal Andhra Pradesh, passing through Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and south Odisha, at 0.9 km above mean sea level. Under the influence of these weather systems, forecasters predict rainfall or thunderstorms accompanied by gusty winds in several areas of the state, including the capital.
Temperature Records
On Saturday, the daytime temperature in Bhopal was recorded at one degree below the normal mark, while the minimum overnight temperature was 25.6 degrees Celsius, two degrees below normal. Narsinghpur was the hottest district on Saturday, with the mercury soaring to 43.2 degrees Celsius.
Until 8:30 am on Saturday, hailstorms were reported in Shivpuri, Morena, Sagar, and Sheopur districts, while Chhindwara experienced a warm night.
Sunday Forecast
The Met office forecasts partly cloudy skies in the city on Sunday, with a possibility of a thunderstorm accompanied by lightning and light rain in the evening hours. The daytime temperature is expected to be 37 degrees Celsius, with a nighttime low of 26 degrees Celsius. The average wind speed will be around 18 kmph.
Elsewhere in the state, forecasters have warned of heavy rainfall in Mandsaur and Neemuch. Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning, as well as hailstorms with gusty winds, are likely in Gwalior, Datia, Bhind, Damoh, Chhatarpur, Tikamgarh, and Niwari districts.
An alert has also been issued for thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds in Bhopal, Vidisha, Raisen, Sehore, Rajgarh, Narmadapuram, Alirajpur, Jhabua, Dhar, Indore, Ratlam, Ujjain, Dewas, Shajapur, Agar, Guna, Ashoknagar, Shivpuri, Morena, Sheopur, Singrauli, Sidhi, Rewa, Mauganj, Satna, Anuppur, Shahdol, Umaria, Dindori, Katni, Jabalpur, Narsinghpur, Chhindwara, Seoni, Mandla, Balaghat, Panna, Sagar, Maihar, and Pandhurna districts.
