At 44.8°C, Ahmedabad records hottest April day in 15 years, yellow alert continues in Gujarat

Even as the buzz around local self-governance elections in Gujarat remains relatively muted, the summer heat has firmly taken center stage, sweeping across the state with intensity.

Ahmedabad on Sunday emerged as the hottest city in Gujarat, recording a scorching 44.8°C, as temperatures in at least nine cities crossed the 41°C mark. The city also saw its average maximum temperature rise by 3.2°C above normal, underlining the severity of the ongoing heatwave conditions.

Notably, this reading equals the highest temperature recorded in Ahmedabad during April in the past 15 years. The same mark of 44.8°C was last observed on April 30, 2025. In fact, over the last decade and a half, April temperatures have crossed the 44°C threshold only in 2022 and 2025, making this year’s spike particularly significant.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the heat is unlikely to ease anytime soon. The mercury is expected to hover around 44°C for the next three days, with weather experts warning that temperatures could touch 45°C on Monday. Thereafter, a marginal dip is expected, but the maximum temperature is likely to remain close to 43°C for at least five days.

Across the state, several cities reported extreme heat levels. Amreli recorded 44.5°C, closely followed by Rajkot at 44.4°C and Gandhinagar at 44.2°C. Bhuj registered 43.8°C, while Vadodara touched 43.0°C. Deesa reported 42.8°C, and both Surat and Bhavnagar recorded 41.6°C each. Coastal areas remained relatively cooler, with Porbandar at 39.1°C, Naliya at 38.0°C, Kandla at 38.5°C, and Valsad at 37.0°C.

With temperatures soaring well above normal, authorities have urged residents to take precautions, avoid prolonged exposure to the sun, and stay hydrated as Gujarat braces for an extended spell of intense summer heat.