As summertime arrives in India, Gujarat had previously met all the scorching criteria. After enduring agonizing afternoons, Ahmedabad residents can hardly afford to step outside. With March around the corner, these conditions shall further deteriorate for the people down in Gujarat.
The India Meteorological Department, for their part, has declared a heatwave alert for this state and asked people to gear up for a further rise in temperatures.
Heatwave Alert in Gujarat: Key Districts Affected
The IMD has issued a warning for heatwaves in Kutch and Rajkot for the next four days, with hot and humid conditions expected along coastal areas. Simultaneously, several districts, including Kutch, Banaskantha, Rajkot, Amreli, and Bhavnagar, shall be under a yellow alert by the weekend. Heat will continue in the above regions until March 12, while temperatures will exceed seasonal normals.
Rising Temperatures: The Role of Western Disturbance
The winds began to change their direction to Northwest on Friday, around March 7, giving some respite from the cool breezes. The region is now under the influence of an anticyclonic circulation system causing warm winds and increased temperatures. Typically, March records maximum average temperatures of about 32°C in Gujarat. Meanwhile, due to the effect of a Western Disturbance active in the first week of March, temperatures started rising by about 1 to 2 degrees. Conversely, the minimum temperature of about 19 degrees is also gaining by about 1-2 degrees.
Meteorological Department Insights: Dry Weather Ahead
“Dry weather is likely to prevail for the next seven days in Gujarat,” said Ramashray Yadav, a scientist at the Meteorological Department. The heat wave warning will stay for five more days for Rajkot and Kutch, while similar conditions will be expected also in Amreli and Bhavnagar. The maximum temperature for the next Saturday-Sunday in Ahmedabad may rise to 38-39°C, while the minimum is likely to exceed 20°C.