Gujarat Braces for Another Week of Heavy Rain, Extremely Heavy Rain Alert for South Gujarat

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast another wet week for Gujarat, with heavy to extremely heavy rainfall likely to continue across several districts till July 10. South Gujarat is expected to remain the worst-affected region, while Ahmedabad is likely to witness generally cloudy skies with one or two spells of rain and thundershowers on Saturday.

According to the IMD's latest forecast, light to moderate rain or thundershowers are likely at most places across North Gujarat, South Gujarat and Saurashtra during the next three days, with rainfall activity gradually reducing over North Gujarat and Kutch later in the week. However, South Gujarat is expected to continue receiving widespread rainfall throughout the forecast period.

Red and Orange Alerts Issued

The IMD has issued a Red Alert for Surat, Tapi, Dang, Navsari, Valsad, Daman and Dadra & Nagar Haveli on July 4, warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall with isolated extremely heavy falls. The same alert has also been issued for Amreli, Junagadh, Gir Somnath and Diu. The Red Alert will remain in effect over parts of South Gujarat through July 7, with Bhavnagar also coming under the highest warning on July 5.

An Orange Alert has been sounded for Aravalli, Dahod, Vadodara, Chhota Udepur, Narmada, Bharuch, Porbandar, Bhavnagar, Rajkot and Devbhumi Dwarka on Saturday, where heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected at isolated places. Similar warnings have also been issued for parts of central Gujarat and Saurashtra over the following days.

The IMD has also warned of moderate thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty surface winds of 40-50 kmph across almost all districts of Gujarat, including Ahmedabad.

The forecast indicates that extremely heavy rainfall will continue over South Gujarat through July 7, particularly in Surat, Tapi, Dang, Navsari and Valsad, before gradually easing. Heavy rain is also expected to persist over parts of Saurashtra, especially Amreli, Bhavnagar and Gir Somnath, during the coming week.

During the past 24 hours, monsoon activity remained active across Gujarat. Extremely heavy rainfall was recorded at isolated places in Mehsana, Valsad, Gir Somnath and Junagadh districts, while very heavy rainfall occurred in parts of Valsad, Daman, Junagadh, Amreli, Jamnagar and Porbandar.

The IMD said conditions remain favourable for the southwest monsoon to advance further over the remaining parts of Gujarat during the next four to five days. A low-pressure area over the northwest Bay of Bengal and a persistent offshore trough along the west coast are expected to sustain widespread rainfall over the state.

Ahmedabad Forecast

Ahmedabad is likely to experience a generally cloudy sky with one or two spells of rain or thundershowers till Saturday morning. Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds of 40-50 kmph are also likely at isolated places.