Ahmedabad: With the monsoon already in withdrawal mode and no major rainfall activity reported in the state over the past few days, Garba enthusiasts might be rejoicing that the rainy season is behind. However, that may not be the case, as the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), in its latest forecast, has predicted light to moderate rain over several parts of Gujarat until 1st October.

According to the detailed seven-day forecast valid until 25th September, light thunderstorms accompanied by lightning, surface winds of 30–40 kmph, and light to moderate rainfall are very likely at isolated places in the following districts:

• North and Central Gujarat: Sabarkantha, Gandhinagar, Aravalli, Kheda, Ahmedabad, Anand, Panchmahal, Dahod, Mahisagar

• South Gujarat: Vadodara, Chhota Udepur, Narmada, Bharuch, Surat, Dang, Navsari, Valsad, Tapi

• Saurashtra & Kutch: Surendranagar, Rajkot, Jamnagar, Porbandar, Junagadh, Amreli, Bhavnagar, Morbi, Dwarka, Gir Somnath, Botad

• UTs: Daman, Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli

This implies that the first three days of Navratri, beginning on 22nd September, may see occasional showers dampening the Garba events across most parts of Gujarat, except in Kutch, Banaskantha, Patan, and Mehsana, where dry weather is likely to persist.

For the remaining days of Navratri, the IMD’s long-range forecast valid until 1st October suggests that widespread rainfall might occur at isolated places in the state.

“Fairly widespread to widespread rainfall with isolated heavy to very heavy falls likely over most parts of central & north Peninsular India (especially Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, East Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Maharashtra), mainly during the first half of the week,” the forecast states for 25th September to 1st October 2025.

Meanwhile, as of today, the line of withdrawal of the southwest monsoon passes through 31°N/74°E, Bhatinda, Fatehabad, Pilani, Ajmer, Deesa, Bhuj, and 23°N/68°E. Additionally, an upper air cyclonic circulation persists over Marathwada, extending between 1.5 km and 3.1 km above mean sea level.

Gujarat residents planning Navratri festivities are advised to keep an umbrella handy along with their Dandiyas as scattered rains may make a brief appearance, especially in central and southern districts. DeshGujarat