Ahmedabad continues to experience intense heat even as the monsoon season is approaching. In the first week of June, the city remains under extreme heat conditions. On Friday, the maximum temperature reached 41.3°C, showing that the heat has still not eased.
According to data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), 53 of the last 56 days this year recorded maximum temperatures of 40°C or higher. Only three days remained below the 40°C mark. This means that residents have been facing an unusually long and severe spell of hot weather.
An analysis using daily temperature data from the OpenCity portal (1991–2023) and IMD bulletins (2024–2026) shows that Ahmedabad has been witnessing a steady increase in the number of extremely hot days over the years.
Between 1991 and 2000, the city recorded an average of 35.1 days each year with temperatures of 40°C or above during the period from March 15 to June 15. The average was 34.5 days between 2001 and 2010, increased to 39.9 days between 2011 and 2020, and has now reached 53.3 days during 2021–2025.
Overall, the city has added 18 extra extreme heat days over the past 35 years, showing how summer temperatures have become much more severe.
The trend has become even more noticeable in recent years. Data shows that 2023 recorded 36 days, 2024 recorded 57 days, and 2025 recorded 60 days with temperatures at or above 40°C, making the period of severe heat last for nearly two months.
Ashok Kumar Das, Head of the India Meteorological Department, Gujarat, said that while the department would examine the figures and analyse the long-term trend, it is clear that Ahmedabad and the surrounding region have experienced a continuous rise in temperatures over the decades. He explained that several factors are responsible for this, including climate change, rapid urbanisation, and the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect, where buildings and roads trap and release heat.
Public health experts have also expressed concern over the increasing heat. Prof. Dileep Mavalankar, former Director of the Indian Institute of Public Health (IIPH), Gandhinagar, and a public health expert involved in preparing Ahmedabad’s Heat Action Plan, said that the problem is not limited to daytime temperatures. He explained that night-time temperatures are also remaining very high, preventing the city from cooling down after sunset.
According to him, when minimum temperatures stay around 28°C to 30°C, roads and buildings continue releasing the heat they absorbed during the day. As a result, temperatures remain high through the night, and before the city can cool down, the next day’s heating cycle begins again.
Prof. Mavalankar warned that this prolonged heat increases health risks. Several studies have linked heat stress to problems such as cardiovascular diseases and muscle fatigue. Some international studies have also connected prolonged heat with higher mortality rates. He said that a multi-pronged approach is necessary to ensure that Ahmedabad remains resilient and prepared for these increasingly severe heat conditions.
Also Read: Deaths, Destruction on the Rise Due to Extreme Weather Events: Grim Statistics in India Climate Report 2024 https://www.vibesofindia.com/deaths-destruction-on-the-rise-due-to-extreme-weather-events-grim-statistics-in-india-climate-report-2024/
