Gujarat’s monsoon has taken a remarkable turn within just a week. After facing a severe rainfall shortage for most of July, the state has now moved into the excess rainfall category, thanks to days of widespread heavy showers. While several districts have received record-breaking rain, the benefits of the monsoon have not reached every corner of the state. Districts in the Saurashtra region, especially Devbhoomi Dwarka, continue to struggle with below-normal rainfall.
The latest figures released by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) show how quickly the weather situation has changed across Gujarat, highlighting both the strength and the uneven nature of this year’s monsoon.
Gujarat Moves From Rain Deficit to Excess Rainfall
Until mid-July, Gujarat was facing a worrying rainfall shortage. On July 20, the state recorded an overall 31% rainfall deficit. However, continuous heavy rain over the following days completely changed the picture.
Within just one week, Gujarat’s rainfall improved dramatically, and the state now stands at 12% excess rainfall for the season. The sudden jump is being seen as one of the fastest improvements in the state’s recent monsoon performance.
According to the IMD, Gujarat has also become the second-highest rainfall state in India for July, receiving around 63% excess rainfall, behind Odisha, which recorded 67% excess rainfall.
South Gujarat Leads the Rainfall Charts
The heaviest rainfall has been recorded in South Gujarat, where several districts received far more rain than their seasonal average.
The top five districts with the highest excess rainfall are:
Valsad: 2,157.5 mm rainfall, 216% above normal
Navsari: 1,764.6 mm, 198% above normal
Surat: 1,071.1 mm, 164% above normal
Amreli: 410.7 mm, 137% above normal
Dang: 1,552.8 mm, 125% above normal
Among them, Valsad has emerged as one of India’s wettest districts this monsoon season. It has received more than three times its normal rainfall, making it the district with the highest rainfall excess in the country.
Dwarka Remains One of the Driest Districts
Despite the overall improvement, not every district has experienced a good monsoon.
Devbhoomi Dwarka has received only 36.3 mm of rainfall, compared to its normal seasonal average of 180.6 mm. This means the district is still facing nearly an 80% rainfall deficit, making it one of the driest districts in India this season. Other districts that continue to record below-normal rainfall include:
Porbandar: 141.6 mm (-31%)
Dahod: 147.6 mm (-29%)
Kutch: 87.1 mm (-27%)
Jamnagar: 154.7 mm (-22%)
The data clearly shows that while South Gujarat has witnessed extremely heavy rainfall, parts of Saurashtra continue to wait for stronger monsoon activity.
More Districts Record Excess Rainfall
The number of districts receiving excess rainfall has increased significantly over the past week. According to the IMD:
15 districts have now reported 20% or more excess rainfall.
10 districts are within the normal rainfall range.
Only six districts remain in the rainfall deficit category.
Out of these, just two districts — Devbhoomi Dwarka and Porbandar — are still facing large rainfall deficits.
Earlier, as many as 12 districts were recording rainfall shortages of more than 60%. The latest rainfall has reduced that number to just two, showing a major improvement across the state.
Why Did Rainfall Increase So Quickly?
Meteorologists have linked the sudden increase in rainfall to favourable atmospheric conditions and the presence of multiple weather systems that became active over Gujarat.
These systems triggered widespread heavy rainfall between Tuesday and Friday, bringing intense showers to many parts of the state.
Ahmedabad also witnessed one of its heaviest single spells of rainfall in more than a century, causing severe waterlogging, flooded roads, traffic disruptions and damage in several areas.
Rainfall Expected to Ease
While many areas are still dealing with flooding and waterlogging, the IMD has indicated that rainfall intensity is likely to reduce gradually over the coming week.
The expected decline in heavy rain should provide some relief to residents and help authorities continue restoration work in flood-affected areas.
A Monsoon of Contrasts
This year’s monsoon in Gujarat tells two very different stories. On one hand, districts like Valsad, Navsari and Surat have received exceptionally high rainfall, transforming the state’s overall monsoon performance within days. On the other hand, parts of Saurashtra, particularly Devbhoomi Dwarka, continue to face a significant shortage of rain.
The sharp contrast highlights the uneven distribution of the monsoon across Gujarat, where some regions are battling floods while others are still waiting for much-needed rainfall. With the season still underway, weather officials will be closely monitoring whether the remaining deficit districts receive enough rain to bridge the gap in the weeks ahead.
Also Read: Gujarat Flood Watch: 14 Dams Full, 21 On High Alert As Water Levels Rise Rapidly https://www.vibesofindia.com/gujarat-dams-full-high-alert-flood-watch-water-storage/
