This story is from June 10, 2019

Cyclone effect: Showers of relief expected on June 12

Cyclone effect: Showers of relief expected on June 12
Even as Saurashtra’s commercial capital scorched at a blistering 46.5°C
RAJKOT: Even as Saurashtra’s commercial capital scorched at a blistering 46.5°C, there was some good news for the sun-baked Gujarat.
This was the highest temperature of the summer season. In Rajkot, mercury climbed nearly five degrees above the normal. Other parts of Saurashtra also reeled under unbearable heat wave with temperatures crossing 44°C in Amreli and Surendranagar.
Surendranagar recorded a maximum temperature of 44.8°C followed by Ahmedabad (44.3°C), Gandhinagar (44.2°C) and Deesa (44.1°C).
Sources in the 108 emergency services said that they have been receiving people suffering from heat-related ailments in Rajkot city daily for a month now.
However, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast cyclone-rainfall from June 12 in parts of Saurashtra and south Gujarat. IMD officials clarified that it is not the typical monsoon rain, which usually occurs after June 15 in the state.
According to the IMD bulletin, light to moderate rain is expected in Bhavnagar, Amreli, Gir-Somnath, Junagadh, Porbandar, Devbhoomi Dwarka, Jamnagar, Rajkot, Surat, Valsad, Navsari, Bharuch, and Union territories of Diu, Daman, Dadra & Nagar Haveli on June 12, 13 and 14.
Heavy rainfall warning has been issued in Porbandar and Dwarka for June 13 and Dwarka and Kutch for June 14.
“Light to moderate rain or thundershowers are very likely at isolated places in the districts of South Gujarat region namely Surat, Valsad, Navsari and in Daman, Dadra Nagar Haveli; in the districts of Saurashtra-Kutch namely Bhavnagar, Amreli, Gir Somnath, Junagadh, Rajkot and Diu. Heavy rainfall is very likely at isolated places and in the districts of Saurashtra, Porbandar on June 13 and heavy rainfall is very likely at isolated places Kutch and Dwarka on June 14,” the bulletin stated.

Jayanta Sarkar, regional director of IMD, told TOI, “The low-pressure area over south-east and east-central Arabian Sea has caused a cyclonic circulation. It is very likely to concentrate into a depression in next 48 hours and likely to move north-westwards and intensify further into a cyclonic storm.”
“Surely, these are early showers for the state but not the onset of monsoon, which would set in the later half of the month. Officially, monsoon has arrived on the southern coast of Kerala and is moving northwards.”
Sea condition is likely to be very rough to high over east central and adjoining north east Arabian Sea on June 12 and over north Arabian Sea on June 13. Conditions are likely to be rough to very rough over Gujarat and Maharashtra coasts on these two days. Nearly 750 boats returned to Jafrabad coast following a warning by the fisheries department.
Gujarat is desperately waiting for rains as several of the major reservoirs have been near empty and the state has stopped supply of water for irrigation purposes to keep it reserved for drinking.
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