After several days of intense heat across Gujarat, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast rain and thunderstorm activity in different parts of the state from May 30 onwards. The pre-monsoon activity is expected to bring down maximum temperatures by 3°C to 5°C over the next seven days.
According to the IMD bulletin, light to moderate rain or thundershowers are likely at isolated places in Banaskantha, Mehsana, Sabarkantha, Aravalli, Panchmahal, Dahod, Mahisagar and Chhota Udepur districts, along with Daman, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Gir Somnath and Diu.
The IMD has issued a yellow alert for thunderstorms in these areas on May 30, warning of lightning and gusty winds reaching speeds of 40-50 kmph.
On May 31, rain and thunderstorm activity is expected to spread further across North Gujarat. Light to moderate rain is likely at a few places in Banaskantha, Mehsana, Sabarkantha, Aravalli, Kheda, Anand, Panchmahal, Dahod and Mahisagar districts. Isolated showers are also expected in Vadodara, Chhota Udepur, Narmada, Dangs, Tapi, Gir Somnath, Daman, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Diu.
The IMD has issued a heavy rainfall warning for Aravalli, Dahod and Mahisagar districts, along with an orange alert for thunderstorms.
For June 1 and 2, light to moderate rain or thundershowers have been forecast in most parts of Gujarat except Morbi, Jamnagar, Rajkot, Junagadh, Porbandar and Devbhumi Dwarka districts. An orange alert has been issued for Banaskantha, Sabarkantha, Mehsana, Aravalli and Anand districts.
Between June 3 and 4, rain and thundershowers are likely to continue across Gujarat, except in Morbi, Jamnagar, Junagadh, Porbandar and Devbhumi Dwarka districts.
According to the IMD, conditions are becoming favourable for the further advance of the southwest monsoon over parts of the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. A weather trough extending from central Pakistan to the northeast Arabian Sea through Rajasthan, Saurashtra and Kutch is also influencing weather conditions over Gujarat.
The IMD said there is no major change expected in the weather pattern between June 5 and 7.