Ahmedabad: On Sunday, the city's maximum temperature reached 42.2 degrees Celsius, which was 0.3 degrees above normal, or near normal. Meanwhile, the minimum temperature at 29.6 degrees Celsius was 1.7 degrees higher than normal. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the maximum temperature is likely to hover around 42 degrees Celsius on Monday.
Stabilization After Earlier Spike
It was the second consecutive day of maximum temperature near 42 degrees Celsius, indicating a stabilization after the mercury had climbed to 43 degrees Celsius earlier in the week. According to experts, most of May has seen high temperatures in the city and across the state, with maximum temperatures consistently remaining above 40-41 degrees Celsius.
Heat Stress Concerns
Along with high maximum temperatures, the heat stress also comes from the fact that minimum temperatures do not drop significantly. In a city like Ahmedabad, heat radiated from buildings and infrastructure keeps temperatures elevated. Thus, even before buildings and roads cool during the night, a new heat cycle begins, said a city-based public health expert. It is therefore not uncommon to see patients with heat stress even after sundown. Symptoms include stomachache, muscle pain, headache and fatigue, among others.
IMD Forecast for Gujarat
IMD's forecast for Gujarat indicated no major change in maximum temperatures over the next seven days. The city was the hottest in the state, followed by 42 degrees Celsius in Gandhinagar, 41.8 degrees Celsius in Surendranagar, 41.5 degrees Celsius in Rajkot, and 41.3 degrees Celsius in Amreli, among others.
