Bhopal: The countdown for the southwest monsoon has started for Madhya Pradesh. Monsoon was likely to hit MP next week. The Bay of Bengal branch of the monsoon was getting active, and the monsoon was expected to enter the state from the eastern side.

The onset of the monsoon was expected around June 17 this year.It would come as a respite for the denizens of Bhopal and other parts of the state reeling under a heat wave for the past week. Before the onset of the monsoon, pre-monsoon activity would be witnessed. Widespread pre-monsoon showers were expected after Sunday. However, for the next two to three days, respite from the harsh weather was unlikely, weather forecasts said.The day temperature in Bhopal on Friday was recorded at 40 degrees Celsius, two degrees more than the normal mark, while the night temperature in the city was 28.6 degrees Celsius, two degrees more than the normal mark. The day temperature in Khajuraho was 45 degrees Celsius.In the forecast for Bhopal on Saturday, the meteorological dept stated there would be a partly cloudy sky. Day and night temperatures would be respectively 41 degrees Celsius and 28 degrees Celsius, while the average wind speed will be 20 kmph.

In the forecast for the state, the meteorological dept issued a warning of a heat wave for Dhar, Ratlam, Guna, Ashoknagar, Shivpuri, Gwalior, Datia, Bhind, Morena, Sheopurkalan, Chhatarpur, Tikamgarh, Niwari, Rajgarh, Ujjain, Dewas, Shajapur, Agar, Mandsaur, and Neemuch.A warning of a thunderstorm with lightning and gusty wind existed for Barwani, Alirajpur, Jhabua, Narmadapuram, Betul, Harda, Burhanpur, Khandwa, Khargone, Chhindwara, Seoni, Mandla, Balaghat, and Pandhurna districts.