Monsoon sets in Gujarat week ahead of schedule

The south-west monsoon has set over Gujarat nearly a week ahead of schedule, officials of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) here said on Monday. They further said that conditions were favourable for further advance on monsoon in other parts of Gujarat.

"The south-west monsoon set over Gujarat on June 9 and has advanced to Ahmedabad and some parts of central Gujarat today," IMD officials said. Due to onset of monsoon conditions weather would be squally along Gujarat coast for next 24 hours, they added.

The IMD has also issued an advisory for the fishermen and asked them not to venture into the sea for next 24 hours as wind is likely to blow at 35-45 kilometer per hour (kmph) which could temporarily reach 55 kmph at times. Sea is likely to remain rough due to southwesterly winds.

Weather department official further informed that in the next 2-3 days the monsoon is likely to cover the entire state of Gujarat. Meanwhile, the weather department has predicts that "moderate to rather heavy rain/thundershowers would occur at most places in all districts of south Gujarat region, Daman, Dadra Nagar Haveli and at many places in districts of North Gujarat, Saurashtra, Kutch and Diu.

In past 24 hours heavy to moderate rainfall was registered in many parts of south Gujarat with 160 mm in Surat city and Jalalpor, followed by Navsari (150mm), Umergam (120mm) Pardi (120mm), Olpad (120mm) , Choryasi (120mm), Pardi (120mm), Gandevi (100mm), Valsad (90mm), Valsad (90mm), Gandevi (80mm), Kamrej (70mm), Palsana (70mm) and Valod (70mm).