Ahmedabad, April 18
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a seven-day weather alert for Gujarat, Diu, Daman and, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, warning of intense heat and dusty conditions across the region.
According to the forecast, isolated areas in Rajkot and Kutch are likely to experience heat wave conditions and dust-raising winds over Saurashtra-Kutch and North Gujarat on April 19 and 20, with wind speeds expected to reach 20–30 kmph. Throughout the week, dry weather will persist across the state.
Between April 22 and 24, coastal areas are likely to face discomfort due to hot and humid conditions. Ahmedabad is expected to see maximum temperatures hovering around 43 degrees Celsius under clear skies, with no immediate relief in sight. In the last 24 hours, parts of Kutch experienced heatwave conditions, with Kandla Airport recording the highest temperature in Gujarat at a scorching 44.6 degrees Celsius on Thursday. Surendranagar followed closely with 43.3 degrees, while Rajkot recorded 42.9 and Amreli 42.5. Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar also remained in the extreme heat zone, registering 41.8 degrees and 41.0 degrees, respectively.
Bhuj and Deesa were not far behind, with maximum temperatures of 41.4 degrees Celsius and 40.2 degrees Celsius, signalling widespread heat across the state.
Humidity levels varied widely, with cities like Daman and Diu reporting high relative humidity -- 82 per cent and 72 per cent in the morning, respectively -- contributing to further discomfort in coastal zones.