Bring out your umbrella or raincoat if you plan to venture out on Wednesday. With a round of pre-monsoon showers hitting the state, the time has come for Gujarat to get drenched. The forecast of the meteorological department in Gujarat said that the southern part of the state may witness the first spell of rain on Tuesday evening or night, while Ahmedabad may get a “few spells of rain or thunderstorms.”
Officials of the meteorological department said that onset of the monsoon was still a few days away. Officials said that the formation of a depression over the Arabian Sea was a sign of the monsoon inching closer to Gujarat. A press release from the meteorological department said that the depression may intensify and be converted into a deep depression at a distance of 300 km from Surat and 150 km from Mumbai. The depression was expected to cross the south Gujarat coast near Surat by Tuesday evening or night.
The forecast for the next 48 hours said that heavy to very heavy rains were to be expected at a few places in the state, with the isolated incidence of extremely heavy rainfall in Gujarat, Diu, Daman, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli.
A few spells of rain or thunderstorms have been predicted for Ahmedabad. The maximum temperature in the city on Wednesday will be around 35 degree Celsius.
Meanwhile, 56 sub-districts in 17 districts of Gujarat witnessed pre-monsoon activity, with rainfall ranging from 3 mm to 10 cm, an official of the agriculture department said. Kaparda sub-district in south Gujarat received the maximum of 10 cm of rain in the 24 hours till Tuesday afternoon, raising hopes of a fresh sowing season if more rains are received in the next 72 hours, the official said.
Warning for fishermenWinds of 35 to 45 km/hr are to be expected along the north Gujarat coast, with the possibility of speeds of up to 55 km/hr. Along the south Gujarat coast, winds blowing at 45 to 55 km/hr are expected, and may reach 65 km/hr. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea for the next 24 hours.
HelplinesCommissioner of relief (control room, Gandhinagar): 23251916
Irrigation flood control room, Gandhinagar: 23244253
