Nights across Gujarat have continued to grow noticeably warmer, with daytime temperatures also staying on the higher side, marking a clear indication of the waning winter season. The persistent rise in mercury levels has been attributed by the weather department to specific atmospheric conditions affecting the region.
Weather Department Attributes Temperature Spike to Atmospheric Trough
The India Meteorological Department has pointed to the persistence of a trough extending from west Madhya Pradesh to an induced cyclonic circulation over south Haryana and adjoining north Rajasthan. This weather system passes across the Gujarat region at approximately 0.9 kilometers above mean sea level, creating conditions conducive to elevated temperatures.
Night Temperatures Soar Above Normal Levels
In Ahmedabad, the minimum temperature was recorded at a significant 19.4 degrees Celsius, representing a substantial 6 degrees above the normal seasonal average. Similar warming patterns were observed in Vadodara, where the minimum temperature stood at 19.6 degrees, registering 5.4 degrees above normal.
Other major cities also experienced unusually warm nights:
- Bhavnagar reported night temperatures nearly 5 degrees above normal
- Gandhinagar recorded similar deviations from seasonal averages
Daytime Temperatures Remain Elevated Across Multiple Stations
The warming trend extended to daytime temperatures as well, with Rajkot recording a maximum temperature of 32.8 degrees Celsius, which is 2.8 degrees above normal. Surat topped the charts with a maximum temperature of 33.8 degrees, measuring 2.6 degrees above the expected seasonal average.
Remarkably, as many as 13 weather stations across Gujarat reported maximum temperatures of 30 degrees Celsius and above, indicating widespread warming beyond typical winter patterns.
Additional Regions Reporting Above-Average Temperatures
The temperature anomaly was not limited to major urban centers. Several other locations across Gujarat reported maximum temperatures above their seasonal averages:
- Amreli experienced elevated daytime temperatures
- Porbandar recorded above-normal maximum readings
- Bhuj reported temperatures exceeding seasonal expectations
- Kandla also documented maximum temperatures above average
This consistent pattern of warmer nights and elevated daytime temperatures across multiple locations in Gujarat strongly suggests that the winter season is receding earlier than usual, with implications for agriculture, energy consumption, and daily life across the state.
