Ahmedabad: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast light to moderate rain and thunderstorms across large parts of Gujarat over the next five days, offering some relief from the prevailing heat. However, temperatures are expected to remain above 40°C in isolated pockets during the next two days before gradually declining.

According to the IMD’s midday weather bulletin issued on June 1, rain and thundershowers are likely in almost all districts of Gujarat, except Jamnagar, Porbandar and Devbhumi Dwarka.

Additionally, the IMD has issued an Orange Alert for six districts of Gujarat. Moderate thunderstorms and lightning accompanied by light to moderate rainfall and gusty surface winds of 50-60 kmph are very likely at isolated places in Sabarkantha, Aravalli, Dahod, Mahisagar, Chhota Udepur and Narmada districts during the next 24 hours. The remaining districts are under a Yellow Alert for thunderstorms and rain.

Similarly, on June 2, rain and thunderstorms are likely in all districts except Jamnagar, Porbandar and Devbhumi Dwarka. The IMD has issued a Yellow Alert across the state, warning of thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds.

On June 3, the IMD has forecast rainfall across all districts of Gujarat and issued a Yellow Alert for thunderstorms. Moderate thunderstorms and lightning accompanied by light to moderate rain and surface winds reaching 40-50 kmph in gusts are likely at isolated places.

On June 4 and 5, rainfall activity is expected to become concentrated in parts of North, Central and South Gujarat. Rain has been forecast for Banaskantha, Sabarkantha, Aravalli, Dahod and Mahisagar districts, as well as all districts of South Gujarat, including Vadodara, Chhota Udepur, Narmada, Bharuch, Surat, Dang, Navsari, Valsad and Tapi. Rainfall is also likely in the Union Territories of Daman, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and in the Saurashtra districts of Junagadh, Amreli, Bhavnagar, Gir Somnath and Diu.

The IMD stated that isolated rainfall was recorded over South Gujarat during the past 24 hours, while North Gujarat and the Saurashtra-Kutch region largely remained dry. Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar and Surendranagar recorded the highest maximum temperature in the state at 41.5°C.

For Ahmedabad city, the IMD has predicted a generally cloudy sky with one or two spells of light to moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning until the morning of June 2. The maximum temperature in the city is likely to remain around 42°C.

The weather changes come as conditions continue to become favourable for the further advance of the southwest monsoon over parts of the Arabian Sea, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and the Bay of Bengal during the next two to three days. While the monsoon has not yet reached Gujarat, the state is expected to witness increased pre-monsoon thunderstorm activity over the coming week. DeshGujarat