Heavy statewide showers are expected to last until next Tuesday, July 12, continuing Gujarat’s high rainfall activity after what has already been a wet week for the following five days.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Gujarat is anticipated to have scattered heavy showers, widespread rainfall, thunderstorms, and lightning during the next five days.
Furthermore, the Gujarat subdivision (July 8-11) and the Saurashtra-Kutch subdivision (July 6–7) are anticipated to have sporadic, extremely heavy rains (115.5 mm–204 mm) (July 8-9).
The rainfall activity over Saurashtra-Kutch will get more intense over the weekend, with isolated extremely heavy downpours (204 mm) on its horizon on Sunday and Monday (July 10-11).
A five-day orange alert has been issued for the entire state as a result of these forecasts, advising citizens to “be prepared for difficult weather.” However, some areas will also be under a red warning that urges residents to “take action” to protect themselves from severe weather.
The regional met centre for the IMD in Ahmedabad has issued the following alerts for this five-day forecast period (subject to minor modifications as the weather develops):
- Friday, July 8: Red warning over Navsari and Valsad; Orange alert over Surat, Tapi, Dangs, Devbhoomi Dwarka, Porbandar, Junagarh, Gir Somnath
- Saturday, July 9: Orange alert over Porbandar, Junagarh, Gir Somnath, Navsari, Valsad
- Sunday, July 10: Orange alert over Surat, Amreli, Bhavnagar, Bharuch, Valsad
- Monday, July 11: Red warning over Gir Somnath; Orange alert over Amreli, Bhavnagar, Junagarh, Navsari, Valsad
- Tuesday, July 12: Red warning over Kutch; Orange alert over Devbhoomi Dwarka, Jamnagar, Morbi, Dangs, Navsari, Valsad
The monsoon trough being active and south of its normal position, a low-pressure area over south Pakistan and the neighbouring Kutch region, an offshore trough running from the south Maharashtra coast to the north Kerala coast, and more meteorological factors will interact to produce these wet conditions.
Since the beginning of this week, there have been consistently heavy downpours. The IMD noted rainfall at numerous locations in Saurashtra & Kutch as well as a few locations in the Gujarat subdivision even yesterday (Thursday, July 7). The former also noted significant rainfall in remote areas.
The district of Mandvi and Maska saw flood-like conditions as a result of the massive inflow of water that was reported in several other places of Kutch.
Localized flooding and landslides, waterlogging in low-lying areas, the closure of underpasses, disruption of railway and traffic movement, damage to kutcha roads and vulnerable structures—all of these hazards are real possibilities across the state due to the unusually heavy rains that are predicted.
As a result, the occupants must stay inside over the following three days if at all feasible. However, the IMD has suggested that if travel is necessary, people should heed travel advisories, check for traffic ahead of time, and steer clear of flood-prone areas.
During this time, Gujarat’s seasonal rainfall figures have gotten closer to average thanks to recent wet spells. The state recorded 147.8 mm of precipitation between June 1 and July 7, which is still 10 per cent less than its long-term average of 164.8 mm.
