Rajkot: Several parts of Saurashtra and South Gujarat have been experiencing continuous heavy rainfall and thunderstorms for the past two days. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that this weather pattern will intensify over the next 24 hours, with heavy to very heavy rainfall likely in various parts of the state, particularly in coastal areas of South Gujarat and Saurashtra.
According to the forecast for June 16, districts such as Surat, Navsari, Valsad, Daman, Dadra and Nagar Haveli in South Gujarat, and Amreli and Bhavnagar in Saurashtra, are expected to receive very heavy rainfall. Other regions including Banaskantha, Sabarkantha, Anand, Narmada, Bharuch, Dang, Tapi, Rajkot, Junagadh, Gir Somnath, Botad, and Diu are likely to receive heavy rainfall. The remaining parts of Gujarat may experience light to moderate rain during the same period.
Looking ahead to June 17, the IMD anticipates further heavy to very heavy rainfall in districts such as Bharuch, Surat, Dang, Navsari, Valsad, Tapi, Daman, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, as well as in Amreli and Bhavnagar. Heavy showers are also forecast for regions including Sabarkantha, Amreli, Anand, Vadodara, Chhota Udepur, Narmada, Rajkot, Junagadh, Morbi, Gir Somnath, Botad, and Diu.
The impact of this weather has already begun to affect daily life. Since early morning, heavy rains have lashed Bhavnagar, Amreli, and Junagadh, causing several rivers to overflow and flooding low-lying villages. Local life has been disrupted in many areas due to waterlogging.
Weather expert Paresh Goswami noted that the southwest monsoon, which had arrived in Maharashtra ahead of schedule but then lost momentum, is now reactivating due to new weather systems forming over the Arabian Sea. He said that with conditions turning favorable, the monsoon is expected to advance into Gujarat over the next two to three days. Heavy rainfall is likely to continue in different parts of the state until at least June 20.