A slight drop in daytime temperatures was recorded across parts of Gujarat on Sunday, offering limited relief from the ongoing heat. In Ahmedabad, the maximum temperature settled at 40.6°C, down from 41.3°C on Saturday. Despite the dip, the temperature remained 0.9°C above normal. The minimum temperature stood at 29°C, around 1°C above the seasonal average. Relative humidity levels were recorded at 68% in the morning and 33% by evening.
Bhavnagar emerged as the hottest city in the state, recording a maximum temperature of 41.4°C, which was 3.5°C above normal. Ahmedabad followed at 40.6°C, while Rajkot registered 39.7°C. Gandhinagar and Surendranagar were also among the warmer locations, recording 39°C and 38.8°C, respectively.
Although partly cloudy skies and breezy conditions raised hopes of the south-west monsoon’s arrival in Gujarat, the wait appears likely to continue. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the chances of the monsoon reaching the state by June 15 remain low. On Sunday, the northern limit of the monsoon was reported near Harnai and Solapur in Maharashtra, indicating that its advance towards Gujarat has slowed.
As a result, significant relief from the prevailing heat is unlikely in the immediate future. The IMD has forecast that Ahmedabad’s maximum temperature will remain around 41°C on Monday.
However, there may be some respite later this week, with light to moderate rainfall expected in parts of South Gujarat. Other cities that recorded temperatures above 40°C on Sunday included Bhavnagar at 41.4°C and Vallabh Vidyanagar (VV Nagar) at 40.1°C.