Unseasonal rain and hailstorm caught residents of Gujarat by surprise on Sunday, the state witnessed sporadic rainfall in several parts. Gujarat recorded 38 mm of rainfall from 6 am to 8 am on Sunday morning, Junagadh witnessed 35 mm of rainfall, Amreli witnessed 13 mm of rainfall, and Rajkot (6mm), news agency ANI reported citing the State Emergency Operation Center, Gandhinagar Gir Somnath.
The Meteorological Department informed that "Unseasonal rains have started in entire Gujarat including Ahmedabad on Sunday. Winds started from the North East at a speed of 5 kilometres per hour amid heavy clouds”, as per ANI's report.
The weather department had predicted rain in Gujarat three days ago.
The rain began with strong winds in many areas of South Gujarat, Saurashtra, and North Gujarat.
Heavy rain with hailstorm in Banaskantha Bhabhar and Tharad areas in North Gujarat.
In several areas, people stepped out of their vehicles to take photographs of the hailstorm and hail on the ground.
Initially, the IMD had predicted that the rain would begin on Friday owing to the western disturbance prevailing. The MeT department had issued a yellow alert in Gujarat and Maharashtra after it predicted rainfall between 25 November (Saturday) and 27 November (Monday), according to Hindustan Times.
According to the IMD, the formation of low pressure in the Bay of Bengal is the reason behind the unseasonal rainfall.
"Due to the formation of low pressure in the Bay of Bengal, thunderstorm activities are likely to begin at isolated places of south Maharashtra from tomorrow. A yellow alert has been issued for November 26-28 across Maharashtra," Sunil Kamble, Head, of IMD Mumbai, told PTI.
This comes as heavy rains lashed Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kanchipuram districts and other parts of Tamil Nadu and the Regional Meteorological Centre warned of more rainfall in at least 12 districts on Saturday.
The overnight rain caused a sudden inundation in several parts. Rumbling sounds of thunder and a flash of lightning here and there early in the morning greeted the people at resplendent daybreak.
Early risers braved the nippy weather during a lull to complete their morning walks before the sky opened up later in the day.