Ujjain Rain and Thunderstorm Alert Update: 21 MP Districts Under IMD Warning, Ujjain Division Included Until 20 October
Rain has been falling on and off around Ujjain for two days, and the Meteorological Centre in Bhopal has now put 21 Madhya Pradesh districts on a rain and thunderstorm alert for the next 24 hours, with Ujjain district in the list. If your plan is a ghat visit, an outdoor darshan queue or a walk between temples, carry a rain layer and watch the afternoon sky.
What the IMD has warned
According to the Free Press Journal, the alert issued for 21 districts covers rain and thunderstorms with winds reaching 30 to 40 kmph. The districts listed as likely to receive rainfall are Gwalior, Ujjain, Neemuch, Mandsaur, Agar-Malwa, Rajgarh, Ratlam, Jhabua, Dhar, Alirajpur, Guna, Ashoknagar, Shivpuri, Sheopur, Morena, Bhind, Datia, Niwari, Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur and Panna.
Two cyclonic circulations are active over north-western Madhya Pradesh, and the IMD expects them to keep the weather unsettled for four days across the Gwalior, Chambal, Ujjain, Sagar, Narmadapuram, Rewa and Jabalpur divisions. The system is expected to weaken from 20 October, after which the chance of heavy rainfall falls.
Rain on 18 and 19 October too
The alert covers the next 24 hours, but the forecast runs further. The IMD has also forecast rainfall on 18 and 19 October in Neemuch, Mandsaur, Sheopur, Shivpuri, Guna, Ashoknagar, Niwari, Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur, Panna, Sidhi, Mauganj, Singrauli, Seoni and Balaghat. Ujjain district sits in the 24-hour window rather than that two-day list, so the clearest spell for the city is the next 24 hours.
What it has felt like in Ujjain
Rainfall has been recorded in parts of the Ujjain, Gwalior and Chambal divisions over the past two days, the Free Press Journal reported. Dainik Bhaskar reported on 16 October that light rain, cloudy skies and thunderstorms were seen on Thursday in Neemuch, Mandsaur, Gwalior, Sheopur, Morena, Bhind and Shivpuri. Nights are also turning cooler, with minimums of 16.6°C at Amarkantak and 17.6°C at Indore cited by the IMD, and further chill expected after 20 October.
Why October rain after the monsoon
The southwest monsoon withdrew from Madhya Pradesh on 3 October, the Free Press Journal reported, and Dainik Bhaskar reported a nationwide withdrawal on 15 October. Neither date ends the rain: an active western disturbance and the two cyclonic circulations over the north of the state are still driving showers. For the season as a whole, Dainik Bhaskar reported that Madhya Pradesh received 908.4 mm of rain between June and September, 95.9 per cent of its normal 949.5 mm.
What pilgrims should plan around
Shipra ghat steps turn slick quickly in rain, so allow extra care on a Ram Ghat or Narsingh Ghat visit and carry a towel and a dry layer. News18 Hindi reported the IMD's advice on 17 October to avoid open ground during thunderstorms and lightning, which matters for anyone waiting outdoors in a darshan queue. No notice changing Mahakaleshwar darshan or aarti timings has been issued; the practical effect is on walking time and comfort, not on entry.
What is not confirmed yet
No district-wise rainfall totals or intensity forecast for Ujjain city has been published in the reports we reviewed, and no hail or gust warning specific to the temple corridor has been issued. Treat the 40 kmph wind figure as the district-level upper estimate rather than a reading for the ghats.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is Ujjain under a rain alert today? A: Yes. The IMD's Bhopal centre has issued a rain and thunderstorm alert for 21 districts over the next 24 hours, and Ujjain is in the list of districts likely to receive rainfall.
Q: How strong will the winds be? A: The alert warns of winds reaching 30 to 40 kmph in the affected districts.
Q: How long will the unsettled weather last? A: The IMD expects the two cyclonic circulations to keep conditions unsettled for four days across the Gwalior, Chambal, Ujjain, Sagar, Narmadapuram, Rewa and Jabalpur divisions, with the system weakening from 20 October.
Q: Are darshan or aarti timings changed? A: No such notice was found. The effect of the alert is on outdoor queues, ghat walks and travel time, not on temple entry.
Keeping your pilgrimage days comfortable
Our team at Shrim Tours & Travels can move your ghat visits and temple slots to the drier hours, arrange covered transfers between the ghats and the Mahakaleshwar corridor, and keep your departure clear of afternoon showers. Ask us at http://tours.shrimmaya.com/.
This story is based on weather reporting by the Free Press Journal published on 17 October 2026, with corroboration from Dainik Bhaskar and News18 Hindi. Read the original report at https://www.freepressjournal.in/bhopal/mp-weather-update-rain-alert-in-21-districts-thunderstorms-expected-over-next-24-hours
