Cold wave conditions, unusual for Gujarat, have made a brief appearance this winter, especially over Saurashtra, Kutch and parts of Central Gujarat.

Minimum temperatures, which usually remain in double digits, dipped sharply to low single digits at several places.

Amreli recorded 6°C, while Rajkot fell to 8.4°C, the lowest this season. Gandhinagar dropped to 10.5°C, also a seasonal low.

Coastal Porbandar saw an unusual 8.9°C, around 5°C below normal, and Naliya in Kutch dipped to 7.4°C. Such lows are rare, though Amreli has historically touched single digits in January.

Relief is expected soon as western disturbances will change wind patterns, allowing warmer southwesterly winds. Temperatures are likely to rise to the low and mid-teens by the weekend.