Cold wave intensifies across Gujarat, Ahmedabad records 5°C drop in 24 hours

A cold wave has set in across Gujarat now in late January, with Ahmedabad witnessing a sharp drop of 5.3°C in just 24 hours. From Friday evening, Ahmedabad and the entire state appeared to be in the grip of an intense cold wave, with people experiencing biting cold conditions.

Within a single day, the minimum temperature fell by 5.3°C in Ahmedabad, 5°C in Vadodara, and 8.4°C in Rajkot, leaving residents shivering. The bone-chilling cold disrupted daily life across Gujarat. As evening set in, the sudden drop in temperature caused markets to turn deserted. Roads in cities such as Ahmedabad, Surat, Rajkot, and Vadodara usually bustling late into the night became eerily quiet by 10-11 pm.

Strong, icy winds affected normal life, forcing people to wear warm clothing even during the afternoon. In Naliya, the temperature dropped to 4°C.

Two days earlier, Gujarat had witnessed rainy conditions due to a western disturbance. While minimum temperatures had earlier been on the rise, cloud cover led to forecasts of rain in North Gujarat and Kutch. The Meteorological Department had predicted one or two spells of rain along with a fall in temperatures below 10°C. Contrary to expectations, a cold wave swept across the state from Friday evening.