Ahmedabad: With the possibility of extremely heavy rainfall in the next 24 hours, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for two districts of Gujarat—Banaskantha and Sabarkantha. Several other districts in central, north, and south Gujarat have been placed under an orange alert during this period.

According to the IMD bulletin, heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected at a few places, with isolated extremely heavy falls likely in Banaskantha and Sabarkantha districts on June 21.

Meanwhile, the districts of Patan, Mehsana, Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Aravalli, Dahod, Mahisagar, Narmada, Surat, Dang, Tapi, Navsari, Valsad, as well as Daman and Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Surendranagar and Kutch in Saurashtra-Kutch are also likely to receive very heavy rainfall.

Kheda, Anand, Panchmahal, Vadodara, Chhota Udepur, Bharuch, Rajkot, Jamnagar, Amreli, Bhavnagar, Morbi, and Botad have been placed under a yellow alert as they may receive heavy rainfall.

Forecast for Upcoming Days

June 22: Orange alerts are in place for Banaskantha, Sabarkantha, Aravalli, Navsari, Valsad, Kutch, and Daman and Dadra & Nagar Haveli for very heavy rainfall. Patan, Mehsana, Gandhinagar, Kheda, Ahmedabad, Anand, Panchmahal, Dahod, Mahisagar, Dang, Tapi, Surendranagar, Rajkot, Jamnagar, and Morbi may also receive heavy rainfall.

June 23: Orange alerts continue for Banaskantha, Navsari, Valsad, Daman, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, and districts Amreli and Bhavnagar in Saurashtra.

Heavy rainfall is also likely in Patan, Mehsana, Sabarkantha, Gandhinagar, Aravalli, Kheda, Ahmedabad, Anand, Panchmahal, Dahod, Mahisagar, Surat, Dang, Tapi, Surendranagar, Rajkot, Jamnagar, Morbi, Dwarka, Botad, and Kutch.

June 24: While no orange alert has been issued yet, heavy rain is likely in Banaskantha, Sabarkantha, Navsari, Valsad, Daman, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, and districts like Amreli, Bhavnagar, Patan, Mehsana, Gandhinagar, Aravalli, Surat, Dang, Tapi, Rajkot, and Junagadh.

June 25–26: Many districts may experience heavy rainfall except for Porbandar, Dwarka, Junagadh, Morbi, Surendranagar, Mehsana, Patan, Banaskantha, and Kutch, which are expected to receive light to moderate rainfall.

June 27: As per the latest forecast, Junagadh, Gir Somnath, Bhavnagar, Amreli, Botad, Vadodara, Chhota Udepur, Bharuch, Surat, and Narmada may receive light rainfall, while most other districts are expected to be lashed by heavy showers.

This widespread rainfall activity is attributed to a new active weather system over the region. According to the IMD, an upper air cyclonic circulation lies over northeast Rajasthan and adjoining areas, extending up to 1.5 km above mean sea level.

Rainfall Intensity Classification (as per IMD legend):

• Heavy rainfall: 64.5 mm to 115.5 mm (2.5 to 4.5 inches)

• Very heavy rainfall: 115.6 mm to 204.4 mm (4.5 to 8 inches)

• Extremely heavy rainfall: 204.5 mm and above (8 inches+)