Gujarat likely to get relief from heatwave as IMD forecasts temperature drop, pre-monsoon rain

Gujarat is likely to witness a significant change in weather conditions over the coming days, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting a drop in temperatures and the possibility of pre-monsoon rainfall in several parts of the state by the end of May.

IMD predicts temperatures are expected to remain largely unchanged for the next three days before falling by around 2 to 3℃, bringing partial relief to residents reeling under intense heatwave conditions.

Furthermore, pre-monsoon activity is likely to intensify between May 30 and June 1, with thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds expected in parts of the state.

Officials said the change in weather would mark the gradual transition from peak summer conditions towards the onset of the southwest monsoon.

District-wise forecasts issued by the department indicate that rain is likely in Sabarkantha, Aravalli, and Mahisagar on May 30.

On May 31, rainfall activity may extend to Dahod and Panchmahal along with the previously forecast districts.

The rain system is expected to expand further on June 1, with light to moderate rainfall predicted in nine districts, including Banaskantha, Sabarkantha, Aravalli, Mahisagar, Dahod, Panchmahal, Chhota Udepur, Amreli, and Bhavnagar.

The department, however, said no major weather warning had been issued for the next seven days, as pre-monsoon activity is currently limited.

At the national level, the southwest monsoon is advancing rapidly towards the Maldives, Comorin region (Kanyakumari), south Bay of Bengal, Nicobar Islands, and south Andaman Sea under favourable conditions.

Meteorologists said the monsoon is expected to cover the remaining parts of the Andaman region within the next two to three days.

A weather trough extending from Punjab to West Pakistan and the north-east Arabian Sea at an altitude of 1.5 km has also become active and is expected to influence weather conditions over north-west India from May 28 onwards.

Meanwhile, temperatures across Gujarat remained high on Sunday.

According to the latest data, Ahmedabad remained the hottest city in the state with a maximum temperature of 43°C.

Gandhinagar and Rajkot recorded 42.5℃, while Surendranagar recorded 42.3℃ and Bhavnagar 41.7℃.

Dwarka recorded the lowest temperature in the state at 33.8℃.