Indore district sees 51% above-normal showers as monsoon gains strength

Indore: The southwest monsoon gathered strength over Indore district on Sunday, soaking several rural pockets with heavy rain and bringing steady drizzle to the city. Gautampura received the highest rainfall at 101.4 mm in 24 hours, while the latest spell pushed the district’s seasonal rainfall to 163.4 mm, placing it 51 percent above normal.The district received an average of 25.3 mm of rainfall between Saturday and Sunday morning. Depalpur recorded 37.5 mm, followed by Sanwer with 8.4 mm, Hatod 3 mm and Indore Aairport 1.7 mm, while Mhow remained dry, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).The showers brought much-needed relief from humidity, with the city’s maximum temperature settling at 33.8 degrees Celsius, one degree below normal, while the minimum was 22.8 degrees Celsius, also one degree below normal.

At 7:30 pm, the temperature stood at 32 degrees Celsius with relative humidity of 59 percent.The latest spell has helped wipe out the rainfall deficit that had developed earlier this month due to weak pre-monsoon activity. Since June 1, Indore district has received 163.4 mm of rainfall against a normal of 108.3 mm, placing it 51 percent above normal. However, rainfall measured at the IMD observatory at Indore airport stands at 112 mm, which is 18.4 mm below the station’s seasonal normal.

Across western Madhya Pradesh, districts including Dewas, Agar Malwa, Burhanpur, Neemuch and Shajapur also moved into the excess showers category, while Dhar, Jhabua, Khandwa, Khargone and Ratlam continue to report below-normal rainfall.Met officials said the northern limit of the southwest monsoon currently passes through Surat, Indore and Mandla, and conditions remain favourable for its further advance over the remaining parts of Madhya Pradesh during the next two to three days. A cyclonic circulation over Madhya Pradesh, coupled with a trough extending from northeast Madhya Pradesh to Telangana, is expected to sustain rain activity. The IMD forecast moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds over Indore and adjoining districts during the next 24 hours.