Heavy Rain Likely to Continue in Parts of Gujarat; IMD Issues Red, Orange and Yellow Alerts

Ahmedabad: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a weather warning for parts of Gujarat, forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places in Kutch and Saurashtra on Tuesday. The weather office has also forecast light to moderate rain and thundershowers at several places across the state over the next six days.

The warning comes as the southwest monsoon remains vigorous over the Gujarat region and Saurashtra-Kutch. The IMD said very heavy rainfall of 11–20 cm was recorded at isolated places in Anand, as well as in Kutch, Bhavnagar, Jamnagar, Gir Somnath and Rajkot districts of Saurashtra-Kutch, during the 24 hours ending at 8.30 am on September 15.

Heavy rainfall of 7–11 cm was also recorded at isolated places in Mehsana, Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Aravalli, Bharuch, Kheda, Sabarkantha and Surat. Several places in Saurashtra-Kutch, including Kutch, Botad, Rajkot, Gir Somnath, Junagadh, Bhavnagar, Porbandar, Surendranagar, Jamnagar and Devbhumi Dwarka, also received heavy showers.

Issuing a red alert, the IMD has warned of heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places, with extremely heavy rainfall very likely at isolated places in Kutch district, until 8.30 am on September 16. Very heavy rainfall is also likely at isolated places in Devbhumi Dwarka, for which an orange alert has been issued.

A yellow alert for heavy rainfall has been issued for Porbandar, Junagadh, Gir Somnath and Diu.

The IMD has also warned of lightning and surface winds of 30–40 kmph accompanying thunderstorms at isolated places across several districts of Gujarat.

However, rainfall intensity is expected to decrease from Wednesday, with only light to moderate rain forecast at several places across the state through September 21.

Low-Pressure Area Driving Rainfall Activity

According to the IMD, the low-pressure area that was earlier located over southeast Rajasthan and adjoining north Gujarat has now moved over southwest Rajasthan, adjoining Kutch and southeast Pakistan. The associated cyclonic circulation extends up to 7.6 km above mean sea level and is tilting southwards with height.

The monsoon trough at mean sea level currently passes through the centre of the low-pressure area over southwest Rajasthan, adjoining Kutch and southeast Pakistan, before extending eastwards towards the northwest Bay of Bengal.

The IMD also said conditions are becoming favourable for the withdrawal of the southwest monsoon from some parts of West Rajasthan around September 19.

Overall, while Kutch and parts of Saurashtra remain the focus of the immediate heavy-rain warning, rainfall and thunderstorm activity are expected to continue across Gujarat during the coming days, although the intensity is likely to ease from Wednesday. DeshGujarat