PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, January 14: A sharp winter chill continued to grip Jharkhand on Wednesday as cold wave conditions intensified across large parts of the state, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Ranchi.
Gumla emerged as the coldest location in the state, with the mercury plunging to a bone-chilling 1.8°C. Cold wave conditions were also reported from Khunti, Bokaro, and Chaibasa.
Among major centres, Chaibasa recorded the highest maximum temperature at 27.4°C, while Gumla recorded the lowest minimum temperature.
Ranchi Records Below-Normal Temperatures
In the state capital, Ranchi, the maximum temperature settled at 21.4°C, which is 2.7 degrees below normal. The minimum temperature dropped to 8.4°C, also below the seasonal average, indicating persistently cold days and nights.
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Jamshedpur Slightly Warmer During Day
Jamshedpur experienced a comparatively warmer day with a maximum temperature of 25.6°C, but night temperatures dipped to 9.4°C, reflecting the overall cold conditions across the Kolhan region.
No Rainfall, But Visibility Drops
No rainfall was reported from any part of Jharkhand during the past 24 hours, keeping weather conditions dry across the state.
However, visibility dropped in parts of the Santhal Pargana region due to haze. Deoghar recorded the lowest visibility at 1,300 metres.
Several Districts Witness Extremely Cold Nights
Data from Automated Weather Stations (AWS) showed that several districts experienced extremely cold nights:
- Khunti: 3.4°C
- Hazaribagh: 5.6°C
- Bokaro: 5.5°C
- Ranchi: 8.5°C
Cold Conditions to Persist
The IMD said cold wave conditions are likely to continue, keeping mornings and nights severely cold in many districts. Daytime temperatures are expected to remain below normal across most parts of the state.
Residents have been advised to take precautions against exposure to extreme cold, particularly in tribal and plateau regions, where night temperatures are dropping sharply.
