Pre-Monsoon Weather Activity Over Gujarat:Thunderstorm-Lightening Likely
Key Takeaways
- Pre-monsoon heat peaks across Gujarat with temperatures in mid-40s
- Rain, thunderstorms and lightning likely between April 19–23
- Activity to begin over Saurashtra and gradually spread statewide
- Kutch and extreme north Gujarat likely to remain least affected
Gujarat and Rajasthan usually become the hottest pockets of West India during the pre-monsoon season. Unlike other parts of North India, dust storms and thunderstorms are not very common in the state of Gujarat. However, extreme heat, with temperatures in the mid-40s across the region, becomes a frequent feature. The temperature differential between the coastline and interiors becomes very large. Humidity levels also vary distinctly across these parts of the state. Conditions are building up for rain, thunderstorms and lightning strikes between April 19 and 23, 2026.
Multiple factors acting in tandem will trigger this weather activity over Gujarat and the neighbouring state of Maharashtra. Light weather activity may spill over to parts of southeast Rajasthan as well, albeit for a very short duration. A cyclonic circulation is likely to develop over southeast Pakistan and adjoining Rajasthan and Gujarat on April 19. Also, an anticyclone is marked over the northeast Arabian Sea, pushing moist winds along the Konkan and Gujarat coast. Another seasonal feature, a north-south wind discontinuity, will extend from Madhya Maharashtra to Kerala, with an embedded circulation in proximity to south coastal and central Gujarat. Under the combined influence of these systems, Gujarat is likely to witness somewhat untimely weather hazards. The activity will not occur simultaneously across the state and is likely to be staggered over different regions.
Weather activity will begin on April 19 over Saurashtra, covering Kandla, Bhavnagar, Mahuva, Veraval, Amreli and Junagadh, and may extend up to Ahmedabad. Over the next two days, April 20 and 21, the rain belt will spread to cover south coastal Gujarat and interiors of central Gujarat. The affected areas will include Surat, Valsad, Vapi, Bharuch, Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Vadodara, Anand and the Surendranagar-Morbi belt.
On April 22, the scale and extent of weather activity will increase further, reaching north Gujarat and remaining parts of Saurashtra. During this extended spell, Kutch will remain the least affected region, and extreme northern parts of Gujarat will also see minimal impact. The remnant effect of the activity will be light and isolated on April 23. Broad clearance in weather conditions is expected from April 24 onwards.
