Ahmedabad: Gujarat’s “fiery” streak is finally hitting a cooling break. After a week of blistering heat that felt more like peak May than mid-March, the India meteorological department (IMD) has forecast light showers and thundershowers to sweep across the state on March 18 and 19. From the northern plains of Banaskantha and Patan to the coastal stretches of Gir Somnath and Kutch, nearly 16 districts are bracing for a mid-week drizzle that promises to douse the heatwave-induced sizzle.While the state’s maximum temperatures have flirted with the 40-degree mark all month, a Western Disturbance is finally moving in on March 14 to break the spell in northwest India, stated the national forecast by the IMD. The timing couldn’t be better. Compared to 38.9°C on Thursday, Ahmedabad baked at 39.5°C, 4.4 degrees above the seasonal norm, on Friday. At 21.7°C, the minimum temperature was 2.6 degrees higher than normal. It was relatively lower compared to 23.2°C recorded on Thursday.Starting Saturday, temperatures across the state are expected to normalize, bringing much-needed relief to citizens who have been grappling with 40-degree heat since the month began. According to the IMD, citizens can expect a gradual cooling trend starting this Saturday, with daytime mercury levels likely to drop by 2-4 degrees over the next three days.The real surprise, however, arrives mid-week. The IMD predicts that the scorching heat will give way to “light showers and thundershowers” on March 18 and 19. On March 18, light rain or thundershowers are expected at isolated places in Banaskantha and Patan, and on March 19 at isolated places in Banaskantha, Patan, Vadodara, Chhota Udepur, Narmada, Bharuch, Surat, Tapi, Surendranagar, Rajkot, Amreli, Bhavnagar, Morbi, Gir Somnath, Botad, and Kutch.Rajkot remained the state’s hotspot at 39.8°C on Friday followed by Ahmedabad at 39.5°C, Surat at 39.3°C, Vadodara at 39.2°C, and Deesa at 39°C. Dwarka recorded the lowest maximum temperature at 29.4°C.
