Ahmedabad swelters at 42.5°C, high humidity adds to discomfort

Ahmedabad: On Thursday, the city’s maximum temperature stood at 42.5 degrees celsius, which was 2.8 degrees above normal. This was also the highest maximum temperature recorded among cities and towns in Gujarat. At 29.7°C, the minimum temperature remained elevated — 1.7 degrees higher than normal.

For Amdavadis, it was also a day of high humidity, with relative humidity (RH) at 63% at 8.30am and 41% at 5.30pm. According to the India meteorological department (IMD), there will be no relief as the city’s maximum temperature is expected to hover around 42°C on Friday, while across the state, no significant change in maximum temperatures is likely over the next seven days.

A trough extends from a cyclonic circulation over Haryana to the Northeast Arabian Sea, passing across West Rajasthan and Gujarat. According to IMD, conditions are favourable for further advance of the southwest monsoon, which has already covered parts of Maharashtra and Telangana.

According to the forecast, parts of South Gujarat may receive rainfall towards the end of the week.

Other cities and towns reporting high temperatures included Gandhinagar (42.2°C), Bhavnagar and Surendranagar (41.5°C each), Rajkot (41°C), and Kandla (40.4°C), among others.