Ahmedabad: After days of intense heat across Gujarat, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast the onset of rain and thunderstorm activity across several parts of the state from May 30 onwards. This pre-monsoon activity is expected to bring a fall of 3°C to 5°C in maximum temperatures over the next seven days.

According to the IMD bulletin, light to moderate rain or thundershowers are likely at isolated places in Banaskantha, Mehsana, Sabarkantha, Aravalli, Panchmahal, Dahod, Mahisagar and Chhota Udepur districts, along with Daman, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Gir Somnath and Diu.

A yellow alert for thunderstorms has been issued for these areas, with lightning and gusty winds of 40-50 kmph likely on May 30.

On May 31, rain and thunderstorm activity is expected to expand across North Gujarat, with light to moderate rain forecast at a few places in Banaskantha, Mehsana, Sabarkantha, Aravalli, Kheda, Anand, Panchmahal, Dahod and Mahisagar. Isolated showers are also likely in Vadodara, Chhota Udepur, Narmada, Dangs, Tapi, Gir Somnath, Daman, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Diu.

A heavy rainfall warning has been issued for Aravalli, Dahod and Mahisagar districts, while an orange alert for thunderstorms has also been issued.

On June 1 and 2, the IMD has forecast light to moderate rain or thundershowers in most districts of Gujarat, except Morbi, Jamnagar, Rajkot, Junagadh, Porbandar and Devbhumi Dwarka. An orange alert has been issued for Banaskantha, Sabarkantha, Mehsana, Aravalli and Anand districts.

From June 3 to June 4, light to moderate rain and thundershowers are likely across Gujarat, except in Morbi, Jamnagar, Junagadh, Porbandar and Devbhumi Dwarka districts.

According to the IMD, favourable conditions are developing for the further advance of the southwest monsoon over parts of the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. Meanwhile, a trough extending from central Pakistan to the northeast Arabian Sea across Rajasthan, Saurashtra and Kutch is influencing weather conditions over Gujarat.

The weather outlook for June 5-7 indicates no significant change in the prevailing conditions. DeshGujarat