The state of Gujarat has gone pleasant, with suppressed mercury levels, over the last 4 days. Earlier, the day temperatures had risen to high 30’s in the closing days of February. Rajkot and Surendranagar touched 38°C and Ahmedabad and Baroda, a shade lower at 37°C. Humid southwesterly winds from the Arabian Sea, coupled with sweltering heat, raised the discomfort level, more so in the afternoon and evening hours. Both, the day and night temperatures have eased out now and are likely to stay good for the week.
Heat starts catching up with the state from mid-February onwards. The Tropic of Cancer passes through and through the state. With the Sun, approaching close to the equator ( Summer Equinox-20March), the heat content will grow further and there are only hot and hotter days, in the offing. April and May are excruciating without reprieve, till the monsoon arrives.
Following the heaviest snowfall of the season over the mountains of North India, in the opening days of March, the winter chill has come back across the plains of North India. Cool winds blowing down the mountain slopes and across the plains of North India have returned the winter flavour, yet again, over most parts. The ripple effect has travelled far to the south over parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat, more so over North & Central Gujarat and Kutch. During the changeover, there was a spell of unseasonal showers of moderate intensity on 02nd March, lashing Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Rajkot, Bhavnagar and other parts. The combined influence of rains and wind sweep from the north has resulted in a twist in the weather conditions.
Barring the coastal stations like Surat, Valsad, Okha, Porbandar, and Dwarka, the temperature profile has overturned the weather conditions, elsewhere. Parts of Kutch and North & Central Gujarat have witnessed unusually palatable conditions right from the start of this week. The maximum temperature is hovering around 30-31°C or less, at Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Baroda, Deesa, Surendranagar, Bhuj, and Naliya, nearly 4-5°C below the normal. The minimum temperature also stayed in the low teens at these places, again, about 4°C cooler than the average.
Relatively pleasant profile of day and night temperature is expected to continue for the next 4 days or so. As the weather conditions and wind pattern are likely to change over North India, with the approach of another western disturbance, commencing 10-11 March, the flow of cold winds to Gujarat will get arrested. Day temperatures are likely to rise again to mid-30’s and the minimum temperatures may spike to the high teens. After the passage of the weather system, conditions may ease out, to somewhat normal.