Unseasonal rain, hail lash parts of Amreli, Jamnagar

Rajkot: After weeks of intense heat spells and scorching daytime temperatures, weather conditions across parts of Gujarat took a sharp turn, with unseasonal rain lashing districts like Amreli and Jamnagar, and some places even reporting hailstorms.According to reports, light to moderate showers accompanied by hail were recorded in Vadia and Bagasara talukas of Amreli district, briefly disrupting harvesting activities. In Bagasara, hail and rain affected daily life, while nearby villages including Shapar and Sudavad also witnessed unseasonal showers.The sudden rainfall has triggered anxiety among farmers, as key crops such as gram, wheat and coriander are currently ready for harvest or sale. Many farmers had already brought their produce to fields or APMC yards, leaving it vulnerable to damage.Farmers fear that continued showers could spoil crops, especially those lying in open fields or market yards. "If such weather persists, it will not only damage crop quality but also impact market prices," said farmer Ali Bhai Jankhara.Savarkundla APMC secretary Mukesh Trivedi said the government has issued guidelines in view of the unseasonal rain. "Farmers have been advised to store their produce under sheds and cover it with plastic to prevent damage," he said.In Jamnagar district too, wet conditions prevailed in villages of Lalpur taluka. The rain, coupled with gusty winds, brought down temperatures, although some areas witnessed brief spells of heavy rainfall.The India Meteorological Department (IMD) attributed the sudden weather change to a cyclonic circulation over west Rajasthan and a western disturbance in the upper atmosphere. These systems have created favourable conditions for cloud formation and sudden rain or thundershowers.Maximum temperatures are expected to fall by 2-3°C during next three days beginning Thursday.Light to moderate showers are expected between the morning of March 19 and March 20 at isolated places in districts including Banaskantha, Patan, Dang, Tapi, Navsari, Valsad, Jamnagar, Morbi, Dwarka, Kutch, Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot, Junagadh, Bhavnagar, Sabarkantha, Aravalli, Dahod and Mahisagar.Meanwhile, daytime temperatures dipped slightly, with several cities recording below-normal maximum temperatures. Key urban centres such as Ahmedabad (36.3°C), Vadodara (35.4°C), Surat (33.2°C), Amreli (36.1°C) and Bhavnagar (34.7°C) reported departures ranging from about 0.5°C to 3°C below normal.Coastal areas like Porbandar (-3°C) and Veraval (-2°C) also saw notable drops, while only a few pockets such as Bhuj, Rajkot and parts of Kutch recorded marginally above-normal temperatures.At 37.5°C, Rajkot remained the hottest city in the state, followed by Bhuj (37°C).