IMD SAYS MOISTURE LADEN SOUTH-WESTERLY & WESTERLY WINDS WERE THE REASONS WHY IT DID NOT HAPPEN THIS TIME
If last 50 years’ records of the weather office are to be believed, the month of May compulsorily experiences dry heat wave conditions with the mercury threatening to breach the 50 degrees Celsius barrier. However, this year the temperature has hovered around 42 degrees C for the entire month.
Dr Manorama Mohanty, director- forecast, Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) Ahmedabad said, “There has been no event of heat wave in the city and state during this month. Generally heat wave conditions are prevalent in Gujarat during the month of May.
However, this year moisture incursion from south-westerly and westerly winds has protected the city and state from severe heat. The maximum temperatures are forecasted to be around 41-42 degrees C during this week and there are no chances of heat wave conditions in the next few days.”
The state experienced a cooler start to the month with temperatures around 39-42 degrees C which touched a maximum of 43.8 degrees C on May 16 in Bhavnagar. However, the highest temperature recorded in Ahmedabad was 43.4
degrees C on May 20. According to IMD data of extreme weather events, the temperatures in Ahmedabad in May have been recorded between 44.2
degrees C to 46.8 degrees C for eight years.
Moreover, according to IMD central office reports, the entire nation has been spared from extreme weather conditions this summer. The meteorological sub-divisions of north-west India have noticed lower frequency of heat wave occurrences in April 2011 as compared to those in the last five years.
There haven’t been any significant heat wave occurrences in May this year.
A series of western disturbances had induced snowfall over north-western parts of India. It has brought down day temperatures to normal and below normal
levels in April and May. The mean maximum temperatures have been one or two degrees below normal over most parts of north-west India.
According to central weather office, this summer’s first heat wave hit the state on March 18, which was followed by the second one on March 26. The third heat wave of the season was experienced on April 23 which lasted till April 27.
No heat waves are predicted till the end of this month. The latest satellite
cloud images show convective low/medium clouds over parts of the country including Gujarat.
