Ahmedabad: After a couple of mild-weathered days, the state is experiencing a sizzling start to summer with a heatwave arriving two weeks early.
Maximum temperatures soared to 39.3°C in Rajkot and 39°C in Surendranagar, while Ahmedabad itself hit a scorching 38.2°C – a full 4°C above normal. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for five days in parts of Saurashtra-Kutch and North Gujarat, along with an alert for high heat and humidity along coastal areas. Forecasts even suggest that mercury in Ahmedabad could soon touch 39°C, setting the stage for a prolonged heatwave.
On Saturday, Ahmedabad’s temperature climbed from 34.6°C on Thursday to 38.2°C in just two days – an increase of 3.6°C. For context, the same day in 2024 recorded a maximum of only 33.5°C, making this year’s surge all the more remarkable. The IMD’s forecast warns of an additional gradual rise of 3–5°C over the next five days, intensifying the heat in the region.
Meanwhile, the IMD outlined heatwave conditions across Saurashtra-Kutch: Rajkot and Kutch will suffer on Saturday and Sunday; Rajkot, Amreli, Bhavnagar, Kutch, and Banaskantha will face extreme heat on Monday and Tuesday; and by Wednesday, Banaskantha, Rajkot, and Kutch are expected to remain under the heat’s grip. Coastal areas of South Gujarat and Saurashtra-Kutch are also likely to experience discomfort from hot and humid air between March 8 and 12.
The first heatwave of this summer is arriving at least two weeks earlier than usual. Ashok Kumar Das, director of IMD Gujarat, attributed the early surge to a shift in wind direction, noting, “The early-summer heatwave for Gujarat is unusual if not rare.” His remarks come amid an overall summer outlook predicting above-normal temperatures from March through May.
The yellow alert also serves as a warning for potential heat illness among those exposed to prolonged sun or heavy labour, urging vulnerable populations including infants, the elderly and people with chronic illnesses to take precautions. “Suggested actions include avoiding direct heat exposure, preventing dehydration, drinking sufficient water even when not thirsty and using fluids such as ORS, homemade drinks like lassi, torani (rice water), lemon water, buttermilk, etc., to keep yourself hydrated,” mentioned the health advisory.
Notably, on Saturday the difference between maximum and minimum temperatures in Ahmedabad was a dramatic 19.6 degrees. Experts pointed out the health impact of such high fluctuations in minimum and maximum temperatures in the city and state, which resulted in people falling ill due to allergies and viral infections.