Mercury in Ahmedabad crosses 41°C again, humidity adds to the blow

Ahmedabad: The heat has returned, and this time around, it has brought along humidity. Amdavadis experienced a sweltering 41.4°C on Monday after a short-lived respite gifted by pre-monsoon showers. From 37°C on Tuesday, the rise in maximum temperature was 4.4 degrees over three days, albeit just 0.1 degree above normal on Thursday. However, Ahmedabad’s maximum temperature was the highest in the state. At 28.6 degrees, the minimum temperature was 0.5 degree above normal.

It was relative humidity (61% at 8.30am and 41% at 5.30pm) that made the heat a bit more difficult to bear, and pushed citizens back to peak summer protocols like consuming more fluids and shielding themselves from the sun.

For Gujarat, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast no major change in maximum temperatures for the week even as southwest monsoon has reached the Kerala coast, and parts of north India experience the impact of a Western Disturbance.

While there are chances of pre-monsoon showers in some parts, the IMD has forecast Yellow Alert for moderate thunderstorms with lightning and gusts for Sabarkantha, Aravalli, Panchmahal, Dahod, Mahisagar, along with all districts of south Gujarat, and Amreli, Bhavnagar and Gir Somnath in the Saurashtra region.

VV Nagar logged 40.7 degrees, Gandhinagar recorded 40.5; Rajkot was 40.4 degrees while Amreli and Bhavnagar were 40.1 degrees each, among others.