PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, May 27: Jharkhand is likely to witness a mix of intense heat and thunderstorm activity over the next few days, with isolated heatwave conditions expected in the north-western districts of Palamu and Garhwa on Tuesday.
The Meteorological Department has forecast heatwave conditions in isolated pockets of Palamu and Garhwa on May 27, even as several other districts are expected to receive thunderstorms and gusty winds.
Thunderstorm, lightning alert till May 31
On May 27, eastern and adjoining central parts of Jharkhand are expected to experience thunderstorms with wind speeds of 50-60 kmph. Districts including Simdega, Gumla, Hazaribagh and Kodarma may witness gusty winds of 40-50 kmph.
Similar weather conditions are likely on May 28, especially over north-eastern and adjoining central regions, including Dhanbad, Bokaro, Hazaribagh and Kodarma.
Thunderstorm and lightning activity with winds of 40-50 kmph is expected to continue at isolated places across the state till May 31.
Weather systems influencing Jharkhand
According to meteorologists, the prevailing weather pattern is being influenced by an upper air cyclonic circulation over south Bihar and adjoining areas extending up to 1.5 km above mean sea level.
A north-south trough stretching from south Bihar to north coastal Andhra Pradesh across Jharkhand and interior Odisha is also active, creating favourable conditions for widespread thunderstorm activity.