PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, January 5: Cold weather conditions continued to prevail across Jharkhand on Monday, with Lohardaga emerging as the coldest place in the state after recording a minimum temperature of 3.4 degrees Celsius, according to data released by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
Chilly Nights Persist Across Districts
IMD observations taken at 8:30 am indicated that cold conditions persisted in several districts, even though no official cold wave alert has been issued so far.
In the state capital, Ranchi, the minimum temperature settled at 6.6°C, while Kanke, located on the city’s outskirts and known for cooler nights, recorded temperatures hovering around 5°C, intensifying the winter chill for residents.
Dense Morning Fog Hits Visibility in Ranchi
Early morning fog sharply reduced visibility, especially in Ranchi, where it dropped to 300 metres, causing inconvenience to commuters and affecting traffic movement during peak hours.
Below-Normal Temperatures Across State
Several other districts also witnessed below-normal night temperatures.
Bokaro recorded a minimum of 8.5°C, Daltonganj stood at 6.3°C, while Chaibasa reported 11.6°C.
Day temperatures remained subdued, staying 2 to 5 degrees below normal across most parts of Jharkhand.
Jagannathpur Records Highest Day Temperature
The highest maximum temperature in the state was recorded at Jagannathpur in West Singhbhum, where the mercury touched 23.2°C.
No rainfall was reported anywhere in Jharkhand during the past 24 hours.
Weather Outlook: Fog to Continue
Meteorological officials attributed the sharp night-time cooling to dry northwesterly winds and clear skies. They also indicated that morning fog is likely to persist in isolated pockets over the next few days, particularly in low-lying areas.
