Red Alert in North Gujarat: IMD Issues Urgent Weather Warning as Heavy Downpours and Severe Lightning Threaten State

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an urgent three-hour Nowcast weather bulletin for Gujarat, placing several northern districts on high red alert for torrential rainfall, destructive squalls, and severe lightning strikes. State authorities have urged citizens across affected zones to stay indoors, avoid sheltering under trees, and strictly adhere to safety advisories as volatile weather conditions sweep across the region.

According to meteorologists, intense cloud formations over North Gujarat threaten rainfall intensities exceeding 15 mm per hour, accompanied by gale-force winds gusting between 41 and 61 km/h. High atmospheric instability also brings a critical lightning hazard probability exceeding 60 per cent across open terrain.

North Gujarat Braces for Extreme Weather Under Red Alert

The meteorological department has elevated the threat status to a Red Alert for five key northern districts facing the brunt of the storm system. Local administrative machinery in these belts has been placed on high readiness to handle potential flash flooding and power disruptions.

Districts under Red Alert include:

• Banaskantha
• Patan
• Mehsana
• Sabarkantha
• Aravalli

Residents in these areas are advised to secure loose outdoor structures and refrain from commuting unless absolutely necessary during peak downpour hours.

Orange Alert Blanket Across Central Gujarat, Ahmedabad, and Kutch

An Orange Alert remains active across central districts, key urban hubs, and the western coastal precinct of Kutch. These regions face moderate to heavy spells with rainfall rates between 5 and 15 mm per hour, alongside strong gusty winds and a 30 to 60 per cent risk of lightning strikes.

Districts tagged under the Orange Alert zone include:

• Central & Urban Belts: Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Kheda, Anand, Panchmahal, Dahod, Mahisagar.
• Saurashtra & Kutch Borders: Kutch, Morbi, Surendranagar.

Yellow Alert Issued for Saurashtra and South Gujarat Belt

A Yellow Alert covers the remaining districts across Saurashtra, South Gujarat, and adjoining Union Territories, signalling light to moderate rain showers accompanied by localized thunderstorm activity. Wind speeds in these zones are expected to remain under 40 km/h, with a lower lightning strike risk under 30 per cent.

Districts under Yellow Alert warning cover:

• Saurashtra Coast & Hinterland: Rajkot, Jamnagar, Amreli, Bhavnagar, Junagadh, Botad, Devbhumi Dwarka, Porbandar, Gir Somnath, Diu.
• South & Central Districts: Vadodara, Chhota Udepur, Bharuch, Narmada, Surat, Tapi, Navsari, Dang, Valsad.
• Union Territories: Daman, Dadra and Nagar Haveli.

State disaster management officials have reiterated that citizens must stay clear of metal structures, electrical poles, and waterlogged paths during active lightning strikes to prevent accidental casualties.