Heavy Rain Forecast for Gujarat: Weather Department Issues Alert

The weather department has issued a forecast for heavy rain across various districts in Gujarat over the next 72 hours. This includes warnings of extremely heavy, heavy, medium, and light rainfall in many areas. Districts such as Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka, Porbandar, and Junagadh are under an orange alert. Meanwhile, Jamnagar, Rajkot, Amreli, Bhavnagar, Gir Somnath, Anand, Bharuch, Navsari, and Valsad are facing a yellow alert for heavy rainfall.

The forecast indicates a possibility of light to medium rainfall in Kutch, Banaskantha, Jamnagar, Rajkot, Junagadh, Amreli, Gir Somnath, Bhavnagar, Surat, Tapi, Dangs, Navsari, Valsad, Daman-Dadra Nagar Haveli, Narmada, Chhotaudepur, Dahod, Bharuch, Vadodara, Panchmahal, Anand, Kheda, Mahisagar, Aravalli, Sabarkantha, Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Surendranagar, Botad, Morbi, Patan, and Mehsana districts.

This year, the southwest monsoon has been strong, largely due to a weather system formed in the Bay of Bengal. Since the start of the monsoon, heavy rains have been pouring down in Gujarat. In just the first ten days of the season, 25% of the expected rainfall has already been recorded. Continuous rainfall has led to the overflowing of 11 dams, while 20 other dams are reported to be 80% to 99% full. Moreover, continuous monitoring is being conducted on 11 dams that have more than 70% of their capacity filled.

In the last 24 hours, Dwarka received over 2.40 inches of rain. This heavy rainfall has caused 20-foot high waves in the sea near Dwarka and strong currents have been observed. The Dwarka Jagat Mandir has also raised its flag halfway up the pillar due to the weather conditions. Rainfall has been recorded in Saurashtra, South, and Central Gujarat, with Porbandar receiving 1.85 inches, Bharuch 1.77 inches, and Vadodara’s Karjan 1.57 inches, among others. In total, 151 talukas across the state received less than an inch of rain.

The continuous rainfall has also led to the Madhuwanti River in Porbandar receiving fresh water. The river is flowing on both banks, with its water touching the Shivling and flowing into the sea. The heavy rain in the upper regions has resulted in the river swelling. The Madhuwanti River has seen new water flow, and local residents, especially farmers, are expressing happiness over the much-needed rain.