AHEMEDABAD: As the wind pattern over the state changed to westerly to northwesterly from southwesterly to westerly, extreme heat gripped the entire state with the maximum temperatures in many towns rising above 43°C on Thursday.
The
India Meteorological Department (
IMD) on Thursday forecast that the heat will worsen in the state and the mercury may climb another one or two degrees in the next two days. On Thursday, the maximum temperatures was above 42°C at nine towns in the state and was above 43°C in six of them.
Surendranagar in
Saurashtra was the hottest place in the state at 44°C on Thursday. Amreli in Saurashtra region and Deesa in north Gujrat region were the next hottest, with maximum temperatures of 43.4°C on Thursday.
Ahmedabad baked in with the maximum temperature rising to 43.3°C, 1.9 degrees above normal on Thursday. The minimum temperature was 27.8°C, 1.5 degrees above normal. Relative humidity ranged between 58% and 20% on Thursday. City roads were deserted in the afternoon as most people preferred to remain indoors.
According to the IMD forecast, the maximum temperature of the city will stay above 43°C on Friday.
Maximum temperatures will remain between 41°C and 43°C in north Gujarat and parts of Saurashtra, Kutch and south Gujarat, said IMD forecast.
Picture for representational purpose only.