Gujarat on Red Alert Until Thursday; Surat, Kutch to Receive Extremely Heavy Rainfall
Wednesday, August 5 : Parts of Gujarat are set to receive extremely heavy rains over the next two to three days, as monsoon remains in its active to vigorous phase over the western coast of India. In view of the predicted weather, a red warning has been placed across Gujarat on August 5 and 6.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), a cyclonic circulation lies over south Gujarat and neighbourhood.
Accordingly, the IMD has placed both these regions under red warning on Wednesday and Thursday, thereby instructing their residents to “take action” and protect themselves from rough weather.
Meanwhile, the IMD’s regional met centre in Ahmedabad has predicted isolated extremely heavy rainfall over the districts of Navsari, Valsad, and Gir Somnath on Wednesday, along with heavy to very heavy falls over Surat, Dangs, Tapi, Dadra Nagar Haveli, Daman, Amreli, Bhavnagar, and Diu.
On Thursday, extremely heavy isolated rain will be on the cards for Surat and Kutch, while the likes of Broach, Navsari, Rajkot, Jamnagar, Junagadh, Morbi, and Gir Somnath will be in for heavy to very heavy showers. The district of Ahmedabad is expected to witness isolated heavy rains on both days.
As per The Weather Channel’s met team, rain total exceeding 100 mm is likely over Gujarat in the next 24 hours, with extremely heavy downpour up to 250 mm also possible in isolated places. Moreover, the 48-hour rainfall could amount to 300 mm, with a high likelihood of flooding and inundation in low-lying areas until Friday. Strong winds will continue to lash the coastal areas, and fishermen have been advised not to venture out in the sea until conditions improve.
By Friday, the advisory over Saurashtra & Kutch will be demoted to an orange alert, which will urge the people to “be prepared” for isolated heavy to very heavy showers. The Gujarat region will be placed on a yellow watch (“be updated” on the weather front) instead, due to the likelihood of isolated heavy rains.
Heavy to very heavy rainfall was also observed at isolated places in Saurashtra & Kutch on Tuesday, August 4, with wet conditions recorded at a few places in the region.
Further, since the beginning of the monsoon season, i.e. between June 1 and August 4, Saurashtra & Kutch has registered 435.7 mm rainfall—an ‘excess’ compared to its long-term average figures for this period. The Gujarat region, on the other hand, has recorded ‘deficit’ rains at 282.3 mm.
Meanwhile, the state of Gujarat has collectively witnessed 364.6 mm precipitation, which is only slightly below its average. But considering the weather forecast for this week, the figures may very well rise above normal by the time weekend arrives.
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