A severe cold wave has tightened its grip across Gujarat, with the small town of Naliya emerging as the state's freezing epicentre. The mercury plunged to a season's lowest of 3.8 degrees Celsius, a staggering 6.1 degrees below the normal average for this time of year.
Gujarat's Top Three Coldest Locations
Following Naliya, Amreli recorded the second lowest minimum temperature at 7.6°C, which was 3.8 degrees below normal. The city of Rajkot itself was not far behind, securing the third spot with the thermometer dropping to 8.9°C, nearly four degrees below its usual winter night temperature.
Widespread Chill Across Towns and Cities
The icy conditions were widespread, affecting numerous urban centres. Key minimum temperature readings from across the state included:
- Bhuj: 9°C
- Gandhinagar: 9.5°C
- Porbandar: 11.5°C
- Bhavnagar: 12°C
All these locations reported temperatures significantly below their seasonal averages, making for unusually cold nights.
Ahmedabad and Coastal Areas Feel the Bite
In the state's major metropolis, Ahmedabad, the minimum temperature settled at 11.6°C, about 0.7 degrees below normal. While the daytime maximum was a milder 26.7°C, the sharp contrast made mornings and late nights noticeably cold for residents.
Coastal stations, typically moderated by sea influence, also experienced cooler-than-usual conditions. Diu recorded 14.3°C, Daman 15.2°C, Okha 16.8°C, and Veraval 15.5°C. Although relatively warmer than the interior regions, these temperatures were still below their typical winter norms.
Meteorological Explanation for the Deep Freeze
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has provided a scientific reason for this sudden temperature drop. Officials attribute the chill to northerly to north-easterly winds prevailing at lower atmospheric levels. These winds are effectively channelling cold air from the northern parts of India directly into the Gujarat region, leading to the significant dip in nighttime temperatures.
This weather pattern underscores the intensity of the current winter season across western India, prompting residents to bundle up as the cold spell continues.
