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The climate of Gujarat
is varied, as it is moist in the southern districts and dry in the
northern region. The Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Cambay in the west and
the forest-covered hills in the east soften the rigours of climatic
extremes, consequently reducing the temperature and render the climate
more pleasant and healthy. As the Tropic of Cancer passes through the
northern border of Gujarat, the state has an intensely hot or cold
climate.
The year can be divided mainly into three seasons namely, the winter
season from November to February, the summer season from March to May, the
southwest monsoon season from June to September and the intervening month
of October.
TEMPERATURE:
In winter, temperatures average between 12°C and 27°C (between
54° and 81° F), although freezing levels have been recorded in
the state. In the summer temperatures average between 25°C and 43°C
(77° and 109° F) and have been known to reach as high as 48°C
(118° F).
| Temperature | Max | Min |
| Winter | 27° C | 12° C |
| Summer | 25° C | 43° C |
In Ahmedabad
, the daily winter maximum temperature is 26 degrees Celsius and the
minimum 12 degrees Celsius, although sub-zero cold spells have been
recorded. In summer the daily maximum temperature can reach 48 degrees
Celsius, though 42-43 degrees Celsius is more common. The summer minimum
is 25 degrees Celsius. Further south, the winter temperatures never fall
as far, and the summer temperatures are slightly more moderate.
RAINFALL:
The
average rainfall in Gujarat varies from 33 to152 cms. The southern region
of the state has an average rainfall ranging from 76 to 152 cms, Dangs
district having the highest average of about 190 cms. The northern
districts have a rainfall varying from 51 to 102 cms. The rainfall in the
southern highlands of Saurashtra and the Gulf of Cambay is approximately
63 cms while the other parts of Saurashtra have a rainfall less than 63
cms.
The semi-desert area of Kachchh
has a very low average rainfall. Certain areas in Ahmedabad, Mehsana,
Banaskantha, Panch Mahal, Surendranagar and Jamnagar
districts face chronic scarcity conditions for want of adequate rains.