Heat Wave Grips Saurashtra, Central, South And North Gujarat

Kandla airport remained the hottest place in the state with the maximum temperature at 46.8 degree Celsius.

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Severe heat wave conditions prevailed in some parts of Gujarat, especially in the southern part of the state and the Saurashtra-Kutch region Sunday, with IMD officials stating it was likely to continue for the next two days.

The maximum temperature in Ahmedabad touched 43.7 degree Celsius, 2.4 degree Celsius above normal, the Indian Meteorological Department informed on Sunday, 28 April.

“Severe heat wave conditions prevailed at isolated pockets in the districts of south Gujarat region, namely Valsad, Saurashtra-Kutch namely Porbandar, Veraval, Diu, Bhavnagar, Kutch, with heat wave conditions at isolated pockets in the districts of south Gujarat region namely Surat.”

IMD Press Bulletin

Heat wave conditions will continue to prevail in south Gujarat, and in Saurashtra on Monday, 29 April, while isolated places in Saurashtra may witness "severe heat wave conditions," it added.

While Kandla airport remained the hottest place in the state with the maximum temperature at 46.8 degree Celsius, the maximum temperature in Surendranagar in Saurashtra touched 44.7 degree Celsius, while it was recorded at 44.6 degree Celsius in Amreli.

Unbearably Hot Weekend

Temperatures started soaring in many parts of Gujarat since Saturday, 27 April and the heat wave will continue over the next three days, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

On Saturday, the maximum temperature in Ahmedabad touched 43.6 degree Celsius, 2.3 degrees above normal, and was very likely to touch 45 degree Celsius in coming days, local IMD centre said.

Temperatures in most parts of the state are likely to rise by 2-3 degrees in the next couple of days, with heat wave conditions likely to prevail in north and south Gujarat as well as Saurashtra-Kutch regions till Monday, the IMD said.

Surat, Valsad and other cities in south Gujarat are likely to witness “severe heat wave conditions” on Sunday. Scorching weather will also prevail in Banaskantha, Sabarkantha and Surat till Monday, it said.

The heat, though tolerable, could cause "moderate health concern for vulnerable people, that is, infants, elderly, and people with chronic diseases," the Met department said.

It advised people to avoid exposure to heat, wear light-coloured, loose, cotton clothes and keep the head covered.

The highest temperature on Saturday was recorded at Kandla Port at 45.2 degree Celsius. Among the hottest cities Saturday were Surendranagar (45 degree Celsius), Amreli (44.9), Rajkot (44.7), Vadodara (44.4), Valsad (44).

Surat, Gandhinagar and Deesa recorded maximum temperatures of 43.2, 43.4 and 43.4 degree Celsius, respectively.