Ahmedabad cools down with first spell of pre-monsoon rains

With high moisture loaded winds, the maximum temperature of the city dipped to 28 degree C on Friday with its first spell of scattered pre-monsoon rains. Within the first few hours, some of the city's areas were flooded.

The city got 14.5 mm of rain, which also fell at isolated places over south Gujarat region, Saurashtra and a few parts of north Gujarat.
The weather was mainly dry over north Gujarat region and Kutch on Thursday and day temperatures rose in parts of Saurashtra and Kutch. However, it later fell in parts of north Gujarat region and changed little in remaining parts of the region.

They were above to appreciably above normal in parts Saurashtra and normal in remaining parts of the region. 41 ° C was the highest maximum temperature in the region recorded at number of places before the state got the first spell of pre-monsoon showers.

The state's weather office forecasts that light to moderate thunder showers would continue to occur at isolated places in all districts of Gujarat region, Saurashtra, Diu, Daman, and Dadra Nagar Haveli during the next 48 hours. Synoptic situation shows an upper cycir over Gujarat region and adjoining extending up to 1.5 km.

Indian Meteorological Department's Ahmedabad office forecasts partly cloudy sky with possibility of development of thunder clouds towards evening for next 24 hours. And city's skyline is forecast to remain partially clouded.

Dr Manorama Mohanty, forecast director, IMD, said, "Such pre-monsoon scattered rains usually start a fortnight prior to the actual monsoon onset. However, they are not technically considered for forecasting monsoon onset."

In accordance with the latest climatic features the weather office forecasts a possibility of scattered rains at various spots in the state that includes the city.

Surat & S Gujarat
Clouds started forming in Surat at 10 am, along with strong winds. Dark clouds then covered the skies, resulting in rain. Showers which started at 11 am lasted for more than 20 minutes. In some areas, they were a bit heavy.

Showers also struck other districts of south Gujarat region. In Surat district, nine out of 14 talukas received showers. Umarpada got 4 inches of rain on Friday, which was highest in the entire south Gujarat region. Bardoli city also recorded 1.5 inches of rain.

Showers also lashed Navsari and Valsad district in the afternoon. Coastal region of these districts received showers till late noon. Hill station Saputara and district headquarters Ahwa also received showers which started in the morning and continued till afternoon. In Dangs too, clouds covered the entire sky.

Saurashtra & Kutch
There was rainfall at several places in Saurashtra region. Showers with strong winds also brought relief to the residents from severe heat. The highest rainfall was recorded at Talala, the capital of the Kesar mango trade. There were reports of a hailstorm at Panandhro in Kutch district. However, it lasted for a brief period, residents said.

At around noon, the weather changed dramatically in Saurashtra. Heavy winds and clouds engulfed Junagadh, Porbandar and some parts of Amreli districts.

Talala town in Junagadh received 52 mm of rainfall while Amrapur village in Maliya taluka got 40 mm of rainfall. Other places like Mendarda, Junagadh, Sutrapada and Visavadar recorded spells of showers for half an hour. Rainfall of 35 mm was recorded in Ranavav of Porbandar. Gondal in Rajkot district received of 25 mm for around 45 minutes.

Scattered showers with wind were also recorded at Talaja and Mahuva in Bhavnagar districts and there were reports of some places in Amreli district also receiving light showers. There are spells of thunder showers also in Bhachau and Bhuj in Kutch district. A few towns in north Gujarat also received their first spell of monsoon.