‘Jal’ brings Gujarat rain

Ahmedabad was taken by surprise on Tuesday evening, when low pressure created in the Arabian Sea resulted in light drizzle to smart showers, in parts of the city.  Officials at the meteorological department said that the rains were a result of the cyclone Jal, which is responsible for the low pressure over the Arabian Sea.

The Met department has also forecast one or two spells of heavy rain or thundershowers in some areas of the city. Heavy to very heavy rain or thundershowers have been forecast for isolated places over south Gujarat and Saurashtra, while moderate to heavy rain or thundershowers have been predicted to occur at many places in north Gujarat and Kutch in the next two days.  

The Met department's website notes, "Yesterday (Monday)'s well-marked low pressure area now lies over east central Arabian Sea, with the associate upper air cyclonic circulation extending up to mid-troposphiric levels and an upper cyclonic circulation lying over Rajasthan and the adjoining area."

The Met department has also issued a port warning and has advised fishermen to not venture out into the sea, as it predicts the wind to be blowing at 45 to 55 km per hour from the south-easterly direction. It also warns that the wind speed might temporarily reach 65 km per hour in squally.

If you've already got your woolens out and are waiting to flaunt them, it seems you'll have to wait a while. Director of the Met department in Ahmedabad, Dr Kamaljeet Ray, said that the maximum temperatures are likely to reduce, but minimum temperatures will rise.

"This means that the temperature during the day will come down by 2 to 3 degrees, and the temperature at night will rise in similar proportion," she said.