Light to moderate rains predicted in Gujarat this weekend

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted light to moderate rain or thundershowers on Saturday and Sunday in parts of Gujarat.

These include Banaskantha, Patan, Mehsana, Sabarkantha, Gandhinagar, Aravalli, Kheda, Ahmedabad, Anand, Panchmahal, Dahod, Mahisagar, Vadodara, Chhotaudepur, Narmada, Bharuch, Surat, the Dangs, Tapi, Navsari, Valsad, Daman, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Surendranagar, Rajkot, Jamnagar, Porbandar, Junagadh, Amreli, Bhavnagar, Morbi, Dwarka, Gir Somnath, Botad, Kutch and Diu.

Moreover, on Sunday, heavy rains may hit  Navsari, Valsad, Daman, Dadra & Nagar Haveli.

Over 47% average rainfall recorded in Gujarat

Due to widespread rainfall during the monsoon season in Gujarat, as of now (Thursday), 54% of the total water storage capacity of the state’s 207 reservoirs — including the Sardar Sarovar — has been filled. 

The Sardar Sarovar project, considered the lifeline of Gujarat, currently holds 49.42% of its total storage capacity. On the same day last year (July 11, 2024), the water storage across these 207 reservoirs stood at 39.55%.

Among regions, Central Gujarat’s 17 reservoirs have the highest storage at 62.83%, followed by 62.37% in 141 reservoirs of Saurashtra, 56.07% in 20 reservoirs of Kutch, 55.67% in 13 reservoirs of South Gujarat, and 46.79% in 15 reservoirs of North Gujarat. Excluding Sardar Sarovar, the remaining 206 reservoirs in the state have an average water storage of 56.76%.

Currently, Kutch has received the highest average rainfall at 57%, followed by 52.18% in south Gujarat, 47.01% in Saurashtra, 45.90% in east-central Gujarat, and 42.08% in north Gujarat. As a result, 24 reservoirs have exceeded 100% of their storage capacity, 54 are between 70–100%, 44 between 50–70%, and 40 between 25–50%. Consequently, 38 reservoirs are under high alert, 20 under alert, and 20 under warning status.

Notably, due to heavy rainfall, two state highways in Vadodara district and one national highway in Chhotaudepur taluka remain closed, while all other roads are operational. Efforts are underway to reopen the closed roads as soon as possible.