Relief from heat: Pre-monsoon showers set to sweep across Gujarat from May 30

Ahmedabad: Bringing much-needed relief from intense heat, Gujarat is likely to witness a spell of pre-monsoon activity from Saturday, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting thunderstorms, gusty winds and rain across large parts of the state till June 4.

The IMD has forecast isolated light to moderate rain, accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds of 40-50 kmph, across Gujarat between May 30 and June 4. Heavy rain is expected at isolated places between May 31 and June 2, while maximum temperatures are expected to fall gradually by 3-5 degrees over the coming days.

The pre-monsoon activity is likely to first affect Banaskantha, Sabarkantha, Aravalli, Dahod, and Mahisagar before expanding to Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Kheda, Anand, and Vadodara from June 1.

Surat, Bharuch, Navsari, Valsad, Tapi, Narmada, and Dang districts of South Gujarat are expected to see more widespread rainfall, while parts of Saurashtra and Kutch are also likely to receive isolated showers and thunderstorms over the next week.

Weather stations in the state have been recording persistently high temperatures over the past few days. On Friday, Ahmedabad recorded a maximum temperature of 44.4°C, 2.5 degrees above normal, while temperatures remained above normal in parts of north Gujarat and Saurashtra.

Meteorologists attributed the shift to favourable pre-monsoon conditions, including a Western Disturbance over north Pakistan, strengthening southwesterly winds and conditions conducive for the advance of the southwest monsoon over the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal.

According to the IMD weather bulletin, thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds are very likely at isolated places across Gujarat on May 30 and 31, and again from June 2 to 4. Fairly widespread rainfall, covering 51% to 75% of locations, is expected over the Gujarat region on June 1 and 2. Heavy rainfall is likely at isolated locations during this period.

The IMD has issued thunderstorm warnings with wind speeds of up to 50 kmph across several districts and heavy rainfall alerts for parts of north and central Gujarat, including Aravalli, Dahod, Mahisagar, Mehsana, Sabarkantha, Anand and Panchmahal. Fishermen have been advised against venturing into waters along and off the north Gujarat coast and the adjoining northeast Arabian Sea till May 31.