Wet spell likely to continue in MP

Bhopal, May 27 (UNI) Moisture-laden winds from coastal Orissa, coupled with cyclonic circulation over eastern Madhya Pradesh, are likely to make squalls and a wet spell continue in several parts of Madhya Pradesh for three to four days.

The South-West Monsoon, which arrived late in this state more than five times over the past decade, is expected about two to three days earlier than the scheduled date -- June 13. The date was June 24 last year, very late by its standards. In 2000, the monsoon arrived on June 6 and the date was June 9 the following year.

''Cyclonic circulation exists along coastal Orissa,'' Regional Meteorological Centre Director D P Dubey told UNI.

The state capital has been witnessing regular evening showers for about a week and the expert attributed this to the evaporation caused by high day temperature. The day's maximum temperature was 37 degrees Celsius, three notches below normal, while the minimum was 23.5 degree C.

Shajapur recorded 4 cm overnight precipitation while Hoshangabad and the tourist spot Pachmarhi recorded 1 cm each. Sheopur was the hottest at 45 degree C.

Usually, extreme heat for about a week preceding the monsoon makes the mercury shoot up to 43-44 degree C.

UNI SHD-AC CH RAI2203