Brace for more: Weatherman

It was virtual house arrest for most Amdavadis on Thursday as rain continued to batter the city. Roads wore a deserted look as schools and colleges remained closed and people were anxious about venturing out.

With more rainfall predicted, it is unlikely citizens will get respite anytime soon. The Meteorological department had earlier forecast the intensity of rainfall would decrease by Friday. However, this has been revised and Jayanta Sarkar, director of Ahmedabad India Meteorological Department (IMD), said the city would continue to receive heavy rainfall for the next three days.

“We were expecting the rains to abate by Friday. But the cyclonic circulation has not moved from Gujarat. Hence, the next three days will see heavy to extremely heavy rain in north and central Gujarat,” said Sarkar.

Private weather forecast agency Skymet has predicted a decline in rainfall, but not much relief. “The torrential showers can be attributed to the low pressure persisting over South Rajasthan and adjoining Gujarat. This system has weakened into a cyclonic circulation and moved toward southwest parts of Rajasthan,” said Mahesh Palavat, chief meteorologist at Skymet.

“A depression marked over Uttar Pradesh has moved to Madhya Pradesh and will create a low pressure area over South East Rajasthan which will bring heavy rains across some parts of north and central Gujarat,” added Palavat. Sabarkantha, Patan, Mehsana, Ahmedabad, Idar, Surendranagar are likely to be hit by heavy rainfall.