Contrary to what Amdavadis were desperately hoping for, cool and comfortable is definitely not what the weather will be like in the coming week. Summer temperatures are returning to haunt the city, with the maximum temperature on Friday touching a sweltering 43.7°C.
The rising temperature is working in tandem with high humidity levels, bringing the discomfort back with a vengeance. Friday, June 11, was the second 'Fry'day of the season, with the one being on May 21, when the city had touched 46.8°C, the highest since May 1916. Idar had also touched its record-breaking 48.5°C on that day.
Kamaljit Ray, director of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Gujarat, said, "The temperatures in Ahmedabad are expected to be on the higher side this week, as no monsoon activity has been noticed yet. Its onset is expected to be on time, by mid-June."
The weather will be sunny and temperatures are expected to rise northwards, in Ahmedabad and other districts of central and north Gujarat region and in Kutch, notes the IMD state forecast bulletin. Moderate rains however, are expected to occur at isolated places in south Gujarat, and Saurashtra on Saturday.
On Friday, the temperatures at Idar and Deesa - the hottest places in the state - also mounted to 44.7°C and above, while Gandhinagar, Bhavnagar, Vadodara, Bhuj and Rajkot soared to 42°C and above.
