Bhopal, April 19 (IANS) Isolated rainfall or drizzle accompanied by thunderstorm and lightning in select districts of Madhya Pradesh from Sunday evening to Monday are likely to occur, Bhopal Center of India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

A heatwave is also likely to persist in several other parts of the state.

According to the daily weather summary and forecast issued by the Meteorological Centre in Bhopal on Sunday, the weather remained mainly dry across all divisions of the state during the past 24 hours.

Heatwave conditions prevailed in Ratlam, Umaria, Chhindwara and Mandla districts.

Maximum temperatures showed no significant change and remained above normal by 2.4 to 2.9 degrees Celsius in districts of Bhopal, Ujjain, Chambal, Rewa, Jabalpur and Sagar divisions.

They were appreciably above normal by 3.1 to 4.5 degrees Celsius in Gwalior and Shahdol divisions, while other areas recorded normal temperatures.

Minimum temperatures rose appreciably by up to 2.9 degrees Celsius in Ujjain division districts but stayed normal elsewhere.

Evening weather observations for Madhya Pradesh on Sunday revealed continued hot and dry conditions across the state.

Eastern districts recorded even higher readings, with Nowgaon at 44.3 degrees Celsius and Mandla at 43.9 degrees Celsius.

Minimum temperatures ranged from 16.8 degrees Celsius in Pachmarhi to 27 degrees Celsius in Raisen.

No rainfall was reported from any station during the past 24 hours.

In western districts maximum temperatures reached 43.8 degrees Celsius in Ratlam and 41.8 degrees Celsius in Bhopal, with several stations showing positive departures from normal.

No rainfall was reported anywhere in the state.

Gusty winds were recorded at Sehore (41 kmph), Ashoknagar (31 kmph) and Sagar (31 kmph).

Upper air cyclonic circulations persist over southwest Rajasthan and east Uttar Pradesh, with a north-south trough extending from east Uttar Pradesh to south Chhattisgarh.

For Monday, the IMD has predicted rainfall or drizzle with thunderstorm and lightning at isolated places in Betul, Harda, Burhanpur, Khandwa, Khargone, Chhindwara and Pandhurna districts, while the remaining districts will stay dry.

Thunderstorm, lightning and gusty winds of 30-40 kmph are likely at isolated places in these same districts.

Heatwave conditions are expected at isolated places in Alirajpur, Jhabua, Ratlam, Guna, Umaria, Dindori, Mandla, Panna, Chhatarpur, Tikamgarh and Niwari.

For Bhopal and its neighbourhood, the sky is likely to remain partly cloudy with an average wind speed of 8-10 kmph.

The maximum temperature is expected to touch 41 degrees Celsius and the minimum 25 degrees Celsius.

No large change in maximum and minimum temperatures is expected over the next five days.

–IANS

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