A sharp drop in maximum temperatures swept across Gujarat on Sunday, as unseasonal rainfall and cloud formations driven by an upper-air cyclonic circulation disrupted the state’s ongoing heatwave.
Ahmedabad, which had endured 41.4°C on Saturday, cooled dramatically to 37.4°C—registering a 4°C drop and providing city residents some much-needed respite from the relentless sun. Gandhinagar and Deesa too recorded significant temperature declines of around 4°C from normal, with highs settling at 37.5°C and 36.2°C respectively. In Vadodara, mercury levels hovered at a relatively cooler 37.2°C, while Surat remained the mildest among major urban centres, clocking a maximum of just 33.3°C, largely due to its coastal geography. However, Rajkot defied the cooling trend, emerging as the state’s hottest spot at 41.1°C, and the only major city to breach the 40-degree mark. Meteorologists attribute this abrupt shift to a cyclonic system hovering over the northeast Arabian Sea near the Gujarat coastline. The system triggered intermittent rainfall in several districts early Sunday, and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) now expects this unstable weather pattern to persist through midweek. A north-south trough spanning from Uttar Pradesh to Tamil Nadu, passing over Madhya Pradesh and parts of Maharashtra and Karnataka, has further intensified regional weather activity.
Humidity levels soared in coastal and southern regions such as Daman, Dwarka, and Veraval, where early morning readings surpassed 80 percent. This spike in atmospheric moisture, coupled with overcast skies, suggests that while the temperatures have dipped, thermal discomfort may still persist in pockets, especially in interiors. The IMD has issued forecasts predicting widespread rainfall across Gujarat between Monday and Wednesday. Northern districts including Banaskantha, Patan, Sabarkantha, and Mahisagar, along with regions in Saurashtra like Rajkot, Bhavnagar, and Morbi, may also witness isolated hailstorms posing potential risks to agriculture and mobility infrastructure. While these predictions bring hope for temporary relief, they also raise concerns about volatility during a season generally marked by dry heat.
From a sustainability standpoint, these erratic weather events highlight Gujarat’s growing vulnerability to climate extremes. The sharp fall in temperatures is welcome, but experts warn against viewing this as an early monsoon indicator. Rather, such shifts echo the broader climate instability driven by warming seas and atmospheric disruption. Urban planners and climate scientists are increasingly calling for a renewed focus on weather-resilient infrastructure and urban design across cities like Ahmedabad and Rajkot, where heatwaves are expected to grow in frequency and intensity.
While the unexpected showers bring temporary comfort to citizens, the larger message remains clear: Gujarat, like many Indian states, must brace for unpredictable summers. With the IMD continuing to monitor evolving patterns, policymakers are encouraged to adopt a city-first approach in adapting public health, water management, and disaster response frameworks to build long-term climate resilience. As Gujarat transitions into the pre-monsoon phase, the state stands at a crossroads—where reactive weather relief must pave the way for proactive, sustainable urban living.
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Heatwave retreats as rainfall lowers temperatures in Ahmedabad and across Gujarat
