Madhya Pradesh: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in parts of eastern Madhya Pradesh on Thursday under the influence of Cyclone Arnab.
The alert covers Mauganj, Sidhi and Singrauli districts, while several other parts of the state are likely to experience heavy rainfall, thunderstorms and lightning.
According to the Meteorological Centre in Bhopal, moderate thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and rainfall are expected in Balaghat, Mandla, Kanha, Dindori, Shahdol, Banagarh Dam, Anuppur, Amarkantak, Sidhi and Singrauli.
Light rainfall and thunderstorms with lightning are also forecast for Seoni, Jabalpur, Bhedaghat, Katni, Umaria, Bandhavgarh, Satna, Chitrakoot, Maihar, Rewa, Mauganj, Panna, Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur, Khajuraho, Damoh, Narsinghpur, Chhindwara and Pandhurna.
The IMD said districts under the orange alert could receive moderate rainfall at a rate of 5–15 mm per hour, with a 30–60 per cent probability of cloud-to-ground lightning. Other areas may experience light rainfall of less than 5 mm per hour, with a comparatively lower risk of lightning.
Despite the withdrawal of the southwest monsoon, rainfall activity has continued across Madhya Pradesh, with weather conditions expected to worsen in the eastern districts on Thursday.
Heavy rainfall is also likely in Rewa, Satna, Maihar, Shahdol, Umaria, Anuppur, Dindori, Mandla and Balaghat, where isolated locations could receive 100 mm or more of rainfall.
Meanwhile, Bhopal, Gwalior, Raisen, Sehore, Rajgarh, Vidisha, Shajapur, Dewas, Narmadapuram, Betul, Harda, Guna, Shivpuri, Datia, Ashoknagar, Morena, Bhind and Sheopur may witness cloudy skies, light rainfall, gusty winds and thunderstorms.
The weather department has advised residents to avoid low-lying areas, refrain from taking shelter under trees during thunderstorms and exercise caution while travelling on wet roads.
The southwest monsoon withdrew from Madhya Pradesh on October 3 after remaining active for approximately 100 days. However, rainfall has persisted throughout October due to weather systems operating independently of the monsoon, including the influence of cyclonic activity over the Bay of Bengal.
Meteorologists said historical weather patterns over the past decade indicate that October often experiences a combination of rainfall, warm daytime conditions and cooler nights.
Although several parts of the state have witnessed clear skies and bright sunshine, declining nighttime temperatures have coincided with intermittent rainfall in multiple districts.
Weather experts attributed the continuing rainfall to localised atmospheric systems and the influence of Cyclone Arnab, despite the formal withdrawal of the southwest monsoon.
[DD news]