Rajkot Breaks 133 Year Record With 46.2°C; Gujarat Reels Under Heatwave
Rajkot: Cities across Gujarat are grappling with an intense heatwave, with Rajkot recording extreme temperatures this year. On Monday, Rajkot registered a staggering 46.2 degrees Celsius, breaking a 133-year-old record for the month of April. Meanwhile, Ahmedabad recorded 44°C, the highest April temperature in the city in the past 10 years.
The Meteorological Department has predicted little to no change in temperatures over the next three days. With such scorching heat already recorded in April, concerns are rising about what the month of May might bring. Until the beginning of this month, Rajkot’s highest April temperature was 44.8°C, recorded in 2017. However, this record was broken on April 9 this year, when temperatures soared to 45.2°C. Now, within just 20 days, a new all-time high of 46.2°C has been recorded, 1 degree higher than the previous mark. Alarmingly, such extreme heat was noted early in the season rather than in the last week of April, suggesting an even harsher summer ahead.
The 46.2°C reading in Rajkot marks an increase of about 5 degrees over the normal maximum temperature. In the past four days alone, the city has seen a rise of nearly 4 degrees. The previous highest April temperature of 44.8°C was logged on April 14, 2017. This year, Rajkot crossed 45°C as early as April 9.
Looking ahead, forecasts suggest that Rajkot’s temperature will hover around 45°C over the next three days. Other parts of Gujarat are also experiencing severe heat: Kandla Airport recorded 44.1°C, Surendranagar 44.8°C, Ahmedabad 44°C, and Amreli 43.5°C. Gandhinagar recorded 43.2°C, while Vadodara registered 40.6°C. The intense heat has especially affected densely populated cities, where residents are struggling to cope with unbearable temperatures.
Heatwave alerts have been issued for Rajkot, Surendranagar, Morbi, and Kutch districts for tomorrow as well. In Rajkot and surrounding areas, strong heatwaves were experienced even during evening hours. Health officials have urged people to avoid stepping out in the sun during peak hours and to stay hydrated to prevent heatstroke.