Ahmedabad: The city recorded a maximum temperature of 42.4°C on Sunday, slightly above normal, with gusty evening winds offering brief relief from the intense daytime heat. Over the past two days, a consistent pattern has emerged, scorching afternoons followed by sudden evening winds, driven primarily by strong surface heating rather than any cooling system.

Meteorological observations indicate that as temperatures rise during the day, hot air ascends, creating a low-pressure zone near the surface. This pressure difference pulls in stronger winds by evening, leading to gusty conditions across the city.

The minimum temperature in Ahmedabad settled at 27.2°C. Winds across the region remained south-westerly to westerly, contributing to the evening breeze, while clear skies are expected to keep maximum temperatures hovering around 42°C in the coming days.

The heatwave-like conditions are not limited to Ahmedabad but are being observed across Gujarat. Surendranagar recorded the highest temperature at 42.5°C, followed by Gandhinagar at 41.8°C and Rajkot at 41.5°C. Vadodara reported 40°C, while inland areas such as Anand (V V Nagar) touched 41.3°C.

In contrast, coastal regions remained comparatively cooler due to maritime influence, though humidity levels stayed high. Surat recorded 33.2°C, while Diu and Veraval hovered around 33°C.

Across the state, dry weather conditions continue to prevail, with no significant change expected in maximum temperatures over the next week. Several regions are likely to record temperatures exceeding 40°C consistently.

Humidity levels in Ahmedabad ranged from 61% in the morning to 43% in the evening, with no rainfall recorded. The weather department has not issued any alerts, indicating stable but persistently hot conditions in the days ahead. DeshGujarat