Gujarat Experiences Unseasonably Warm Winter for Second Year

Gujarat has recorded an unseasonably warm winter for a second consecutive year, with no significant cold wave reported during the months of November and December. Data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) indicates that minimum temperatures have remained at or above normal levels across the state.

In Ahmedabad, the average minimum temperature in December was recorded at 15.4°C, which is 1.9°C higher than the normal average. The average maximum temperature stood at 30°C, slightly above normal by 0.6°C. The city’s lowest minimum temperature was noted at 13.1°C on December 12, while the highest minimum reached 17.5°C on December 1. Similar trends were observed in other major cities of Gujarat, including Surat and Rajkot, which experienced higher average minimum temperatures, while Vadodara’s figures were consistent with the state’s trends.

In Surat, the lowest recorded minimum temperature for December was 13.8°C, whereas Vadodara reported a low of 11.8°C, and Rajkot recorded 12°C. Notably, Naliya, one of the coldest areas in the state, only experienced temperatures falling to 10°C or below on five occasions from November 1 to December 31. This anomaly is significant considering that December is typically the coldest month in Gujarat.

According to the IMD, cold wave conditions are defined for plains when the minimum temperature drops to 10°C or less and is 4.5°C to 6.4°C below normal levels. A severe cold wave is classified as a departure of more than 6.4°C.

Ashok Kumar Das, Director of IMD Gujarat, explained that the absence of cold wave conditions is linked to prevailing wind patterns. He noted, “The cold generally arrives in the state with northerly winds. In the past two months, it was mostly easterly to northeasterly winds,” adding that such deviations are not highly unusual.

In November, Ahmedabad recorded an average of 0.6°C above normal for minimum temperatures, while maximum temperatures were 2°C below normal. This pattern is attributed to changing weather conditions and unseasonal rain in parts of the state. Early in November, the temperature gap between minimum and maximum readings in Ahmedabad was under 10°C, with a notable minimum temperature deviation of 6.5°C on November 3, when the minimum temperature hit 25.5°C.

The unusual warmth during the winter months has raised questions about the potential impacts on agriculture and daily life in Gujarat. As the state looks ahead, residents and officials alike are left to ponder what this means for the upcoming months and the broader implications of shifting climatic patterns.