Surat: After being delayed by more than a week, the southwest monsoon has started moving towards Gujarat. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), conditions are favourable for the arrival of the southwest monsoon in the state within the next two to three days.

According to the weather bulletin issued on Tuesday evening, the monsoon has advanced further into some parts of the Arabian Sea, Maharashtra and central India and is now expected to progress towards Gujarat.

Notably, the monsoon usually arrives in Gujarat around June 15, but this year its onset has been delayed by more than a week.

The bulletin further stated that an upper-air cyclonic circulation is active over North Gujarat and adjoining areas, while moisture-laden southwesterly to westerly winds are prevailing at lower levels over the state. As a result, rainfall activity is likely to increase in the coming days.

During the last 24 hours, rain was recorded at many places in South Gujarat, while isolated showers occurred in parts of North Gujarat and Saurashtra. The weather remained mainly dry over Kutch.

Light to moderate rain or thundershowers are likely in Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Mehsana, Sabarkantha, Aravalli, Kheda, Anand, Panchmahal, Dahod and Mahisagar districts during the next 24 hours. Rain has also been forecast at several places in Vadodara, Bharuch, Surat, Navsari, Valsad, Dang, Tapi, Narmada and Chhota Udepur districts of South Gujarat.

Additionally, the IMD has issued a heavy rainfall warning for Surat, Navsari, Valsad and Dang districts, as well as Daman, Dadra and Nagar Haveli. Heavy rain is also likely at isolated places in Amreli and Bhavnagar districts of Saurashtra.

Ahmedabad city and surrounding areas are expected to witness generally cloudy skies with one or two spells of rain or thundershowers during the next 24 hours. The city’s maximum temperature is likely to remain around 40 degrees Celsius. DeshGujarat