Ahmedabad logs 42.2°C as heat persists, IMD sees steady trend

Ahmedabad: On Sunday, the city’s maximum temperature stood at 42.2°C, which was 0.3°C above normal, or near normal. Meanwhile, the minimum temperature at 29.6°C was 1.7°C higher than normal. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the maximum temperature is likely to hover around 42°C on Monday.

It was the second consecutive day of maximum temperature near 42°C, indicating a stabilization after the mercury had climbed to 43°C earlier in the week.

According to experts, most of May has seen high temperatures in the city and across the state, with maximum temperatures consistently remaining above 40-41°C.

“Along with high maximum temperatures, the heat stress also comes from the fact that minimum temperatures do not drop significantly. In a city like Ahmedabad, heat radiated from buildings and infrastructure keeps temperatures elevated. Thus, even before buildings and roads cool during the night, a new heat cycle begins,” said a city-based public health expert. “It is therefore not uncommon to see patients with heat stress even after sundown. Symptoms include stomachache, muscle pain, headache and fatigue, among others.”

IMD’s forecast for Gujarat indicated no major change in maximum temperatures over the next seven days. The city was the hottest in the state, followed by 42°C in Gandhinagar, 41.8°C in Surendranagar, 41.5°C in Rajkot, and 41.3°C in Amreli, among others.