The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said that Gujarat will witness the second wave of monsoon starting Friday, July 22. The rainfall is expected to intensify as Saturday approaches, the department has said. Northern parts of the state, including Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar, are likely to see heavy showers with thunder and strong winds. Sabarkantha, Surendranagar and Rajkot should also expect heavy rains. Besides, there are chances of heavy rains in Patan and Mehsana as well.
Around Wednesday next week, heavy to very heavy rains is expected to lash Chotaudepur, Banaskantha, Sabarkantha, Mehsana and Patan. Heavy rain is forecast in Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Aravalli, Mahisagar, Kheda, Panchmahal, Anand, Vadodara, Dahod, Valsad, Daman and Dadra and Nagar-Haveli.
Since the start of this week, rainfall has slowed down in the state. However, data shows that the average rainfall recorded in the first fifteen days of this month is more than double as compared to last year. Last year, the state received 155.92 mm of rainfall, while this year it is already 397.02 mm. The average rainfall of the state is 850 mm. Significantly, nearly 50% of the total rainfall has been recorded in 20 talukas only from July 8 to 11 this year. Every taluka has received more than 50 mm of rainfall to date. This is the first time in a decade that Gujarat has received such heavy rainfall in July. Most of the dams are also more than 50% full.
