Ahmedabad: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a thunderstorm and rainfall warning for several parts of Gujarat over the next few days, with gusty winds and lightning likely to impact isolated districts.

According to the mid-day weather bulletin issued on March 31, light thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds of 30–40 kmph are very likely at isolated places in North Gujarat districts, including Banaskantha, Patan, Mehsana and Sabarkantha, as well as in Saurashtra-Kutch districts such as Amreli, Bhavnagar and Kutch. These conditions are expected to be accompanied by light to moderate rainfall.

However, April 1 is likely to witness dry weather across the state. The rain spell is expected to return on April 2, affecting a wider region, including Banaskantha, Patan, Mehsana, Sabarkantha, Chhota Udepur, Narmada, Surat, Tapi, Dang, Navsari and Valsad, along with Daman and Dadra & Nagar Haveli. Similar thunderstorm activity is also likely over Amreli, Bhavnagar and Kutch.

On April 3, light thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds of 30–40 kmph, accompanied by light to moderate rain, are again likely at isolated places in Banaskantha, Patan, Mehsana and Sabarkantha, as well as in Amreli, Bhavnagar and Kutch.

Light rain and thunderstorms may persist in isolated pockets on April 4, mainly over North Gujarat and parts of Saurashtra-Kutch. However, weather conditions are expected to remain dry again from April 5 onwards.

The IMD has cautioned that thunderstorms may lead to strong winds, minor damage to standing crops, uprooting of trees, and disruptions to power and communication lines. People have been advised to remain indoors during storms, avoid taking shelter under trees, and stay away from electrical objects and water bodies.

Meanwhile, temperatures across Gujarat are expected to remain largely stable over the next 48 hours, followed by a gradual drop of 2–3°C. Ahmedabad is likely to witness a partly cloudy sky, with temperatures hovering around a maximum of 38°C and a minimum of 27°C over the next 24 hours. DeshGujarat