Ahmedabad: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast light to moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds across several parts of Gujarat over the next 24 hours.

According to the IMD’s midday weather bulletin issued on Friday, an upper-air cyclonic circulation over southeast Rajasthan and adjoining Gujarat, coupled with prevailing southwesterly to westerly winds at lower levels, is influencing the state’s weather conditions. Meanwhile, conditions remain favourable for the further advance of the southwest monsoon over parts of western and southern India during the next two to three days.

The weather office has issued a yellow alert for Day 1 (till the morning of June 6), warning of moderate thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and surface winds of 40-50 kmph at isolated places across several districts.

The warning covers North Gujarat districts, including Banaskantha, Patan, Mehsana, Sabarkantha, Gandhinagar, Aravalli, Kheda, Ahmedabad, Anand, Panchmahal, Dahod, and Mahisagar; South Gujarat districts, including Vadodara, Chhota Udepur, Narmada, Bharuch, Surat, Dang, Tapi, Navsari, and Valsad, along with Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman; and Saurashtra districts, including Surendranagar, Rajkot, Amreli, Bhavnagar, Gir Somnath, and Botad.

The IMD said thunderstorm activity is likely to subside from June 6 onwards, with light to moderate rain or thundershowers expected only at isolated places. During the next seven days, rainfall is mainly forecast over parts of South Gujarat, including Vadodara, Chhota Udepur, Narmada, Surat, Dang, Tapi, Navsari, and Valsad, as well as Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman. In Saurashtra, isolated rainfall is likely in Amreli, Bhavnagar, and Gir Somnath districts, and in Diu, till the morning of June 12.

The IMD said no significant change in maximum temperatures is expected during the next week. Ahmedabad, which recorded the highest temperature in Gujarat at 41.4°C on Thursday, is likely to witness a generally cloudy sky with one or two spells of light to moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning over the next 24 hours. The city’s maximum temperature is expected to remain around 40°C.

No heavy rainfall warning has been issued for Gujarat at present. However, authorities have urged people to remain alert and monitor weather updates, as localised thunderstorms may lead to brief periods of strong winds, reduced visibility, and waterlogging in vulnerable areas. DeshGujarat