After warm Feb, scorching summer ahead

Ahmedabad: If it felt like winter ended in Jan this year, the data backs it up. Of Feb's 28 days, 27 recorded maximum temperatures above 30°C, with the month's peak touching 35.7°C on Feb 24. In comparison, the same threshold was crossed on 21 days in Feb 2025. Similarly, the number of days with minimum temperatures above 20°C rose from four last year to five this year. More striking is the movement of temperatures. Compared to an average maximum temperature of 32.4°C, which was 2 degrees higher than normal in 2025, this year's average maximum temperature for the month was 32.8°C, again 2°C above normal. The average minimum temperature for the month was 16.8°C, which was 2.4°C higher than normal in 2025; this year, it rose to 18.7°C, about 4°C above normal. To put the figures in perspective, mean maximum and minimum temperatures between 1991 and 2020 for Feb were 31°C and 14.6°C, respectively.
Meteorology experts said that this year's relatively warmer weather was primarily due to multiple days of Western Disturbances in the northern part of India. "The temperatures are primarily related to the direction of the wind, along with other factors, and due to the weather systems, the northerly winds, which generally bring in cold, were not felt over the region," said an expert. According to IMD data, this week's minimum temperatures on Wednesday and Thursday were among the top 10 highest minimum temperatures of all time for the city.The city and state are now bracing for the scorching summer months. The IMD long-range forecast (LRF) for the period from March to May indicated that the state may experience above-normal maximum and minimum temperatures. Compared to maximum temperatures, minimum temperatures may show a higher deviation, according to the map.For March, some parts of Saurashtra and Kutch may experience above-normal maximum temperatures, whereas minimum temperatures are likely to be higher than normal across the region, according to the forecast. It added that the frequency of heatwaves will be higher than usual during the summer months, and in March too, heatwaves could be experienced in some parts of central and south Gujarat. The forecast also indicates above normal rainfall in March.Feb records higher temperatures32.8°C, average maximum temperature during the month, higher than 32.4°C in 20252°C, average deviation from normal temperatures for maximum temperatures18.7°C, average minimum temperature during the month, higher than 16.8°C in 20254°C, average deviation from normal temperatures for minimum temperatures31°C and 14.6°C are normal mean maximum and minimum temperatures for the city between 1991 and 2020