Ahmedabad is bracing for extreme heat as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for several cities in Gujarat. The alert is set to take effect on March 9 and will impact areas including Surat, Vadodara, and parts of Saurashtra.
The IMD’s bulletin warns that isolated pockets in Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Banaskantha, and surrounding districts could experience intense heatwave conditions. Coastal regions of Saurashtra-Kutch are also expected to face hot and humid weather.
On Sunday, Ahmedabad recorded a blistering maximum temperature of 39.4°C—5.2 degrees above normal—and a minimum of 21.8°C, which is about 3.9 degrees higher than usual. As temperatures continue to rise over the next few days, officials predict another jump of 2-3 degrees in both high and low temperatures.
Rajkot and Surendranagar saw their first 40°C readings this season on Sunday as well, with Mahuva reaching 39.8°C and Deesa at 39.6°C. Other major cities like Surat, Vadodara, and Gandhinagar also reported maximums exceeding 39°C.
The IMD’s long-range forecast for March indicates that most of Gujarat could see above-normal temperatures this month—a sign that an early start to the summer heat might be on the horizon.