A sudden shift in weather conditions brought light to moderate rainfall to Surat city and surrounding areas of Surat district on Thursday. The unanticipated showers impacted daily routines and temporarily halted progress on several major development projects across the region.
Rainfall Pattern and Immediate Impact
Drizzling commenced in the early morning hours and was reported from nearly all zones of Surat. The rain, however, subsided later in the day, leaving behind persistently cloudy skies. The minimum temperature recorded in Surat was 18°C, marking a notable increase of approximately 2°C compared to the readings of the previous two days. In the industrial belt of Hazira, a brief spell of heavier rainfall caused disruptions to vehicular movement.
Contrary to the city's experience, villages within Surat district did not report any heavy precipitation. Local farmer leader Jayesh Patel provided reassurance, stating, "There is no heavy rain in Surat district, and it did not impact agricultural produce. The weather is expected to improve tomorrow."
IMD Forecast and Wider Weather Influence
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has indicated that the wet spell may not be over just yet. The forecast for Friday suggests light rainfall is very likely at isolated places in several districts of South Gujarat, including Surat, Tapi, Navsari, Dang, Valsad, and the union territories of Daman, Dadra and Nagar Haveli.
Meteorologists attribute this sudden change in weather to an upper air cyclonic circulation situated over northern Pakistan and adjoining areas of Punjab. This system is exerting an influence on weather patterns further south, reaching into Gujarat.
Unusually Warm Nights Across the Region
A concurrent and significant weather trend observed was the appreciable rise in night-time temperatures across multiple locations in Gujarat. The union territory of Diu recorded a minimum temperature of 19.7 degrees Celsius, which is a substantial 7.5 degrees above the normal average for this time of year.
Other major cities and towns also experienced unusually warmer nights. Ahmedabad, Amreli, Vadodara, Bhavnagar, and Deesa all reported night temperatures hovering around 6 degrees higher than their typical seasonal norms, making for distinctly warmer evenings.
