Madhya Pradesh’s monsoon season has ended with a narrow miss — just 0.6 percentage points shy of the ‘normal’ threshold, according to the India Meteorological Department. The state recorded an average of 904 mm of rainfall (35.6 inches) between June and September, falling short of the long-period average of 952 mm (37.3 inches). That translates to 95.4% of normal rainfall, placing it just outside the IMD’s defined range for 'normal' conditions, which spans from 96% to 104%. The shortfall is not evenly distributed. While eastern divisions including Jabalpur, Rewa, Sagar, and Shahdol received about 4% more than their seasonal quota, western zones, covering Indore, Ujjain, Narmadapuram, and Gwalior-Chambal. Saw deficits as high as 12%. Alirajpur district recorded less than half its expected rainfall, raising alarms over agricultural output and water security. Even though July, August, and September brought above-average rains, they were insufficient to offset June’s significant deficit. As a result, 30 out of 55 districts across the state are now facing acute water shortages, affecting drinking water supplies, crop cultivation, and industrial operations. In Bhopal, Saturday’s minimum temperature was 23.5°C, with a maximum forecast at 30.8°C. The city’s temperature is expected to rise gradually through the week, peaking at 28.7°C on Friday. Wind speeds remained low, around 4 kmph. In Indore, the minimum stood at 24°C, with highs reaching 31.3°C. Forecasted temperatures in the capital will climb from 27°C on Sunday to 28.6°C by Thursday, before dipping slightly to 28.4°C on Friday. Sunrise in Bhopal is expected at 6.12 am, sunset at 6.05 pm. In Indore, sunrise at 6.18 am, sunset at 6.12 pm. With the monsoon over and reservoirs still under strain, the next phase of the year will be critical. The question isn’t whether rain will come, it’s how much, when, and where it lands.