Cyclone Arnab impacts Jharkhand; rain and gusty winds sweep Kolhan
PINAKI MAJUMDAR Jamshedpur, October 27: Very severe cyclonic storm Arnab began affecting Jharkhand’s weather on Tuesday, with rain and gusty winds reported…
PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, October 27: Very severe cyclonic storm Arnab began affecting Jharkhand’s weather on Tuesday, with rain and gusty winds reported from several places since evening, including Jamshedpur, Simdega, Khunti and the entire Kolhan region, as well as parts of eastern and central Jharkhand.
Overcast skies and increased cloud cover prevailed across several areas as the storm advanced towards the Andhra Pradesh coast.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast thunderstorms, lightning, gusty winds and heavy to very heavy rainfall in several parts of Jharkhand over the next two days.
According to the IMD bulletin issued on Tuesday morning, Arnab, pronounced ‘Ornab’, was moving west-northwestwards over the west-central Bay of Bengal at around 20 kmph. At 8.30 am, its centre was located near latitude 16.0°N and longitude 84.3°E, about 220 km south-southeast of Visakhapatnam and 240 km east-southeast of Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh.
The storm is likely to move northwestwards and cross the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, close to Yanam, by the forenoon of October 28. It is expected to make landfall as a very severe cyclonic storm, with maximum sustained winds of 125-135 kmph and gusts reaching 150 kmph.
Although the storm is expected to make landfall in Andhra Pradesh, its influence is already being felt in Jharkhand through increased cloud cover, rain and gusty winds.
Heavy Rain Alert for October 28-29
The IMD has forecast thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds of 50-60 kmph at isolated places in northwestern, southern and central Jharkhand on Wednesday.
Heavy rain is likely at isolated places in southern and adjoining central districts. Northeastern and adjoining central areas may experience thunderstorms accompanied by winds of 30-40 kmph.
On Thursday, heavy rainfall is likely at several places, with very heavy rain forecast at isolated locations in western and adjoining southern Jharkhand, including Simdega and West Singhbhum.
Gusty winds of 50-60 kmph, accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning, are also likely at isolated places in northwestern, southern and central parts of the state.
Heavy rain is additionally forecast at isolated places in central and adjoining southern districts, including Seraikela-Kharsawan and East Singhbhum, as well as Chatra district in northwestern Jharkhand.
Temperatures Likely to Fluctuate
The weather system is likely to bring a fall of 3-5 degrees Celsius in maximum temperatures over the next three days, followed by a rise of 2-3 degrees over the subsequent two days.
Minimum temperatures are expected to rise by 2-3 degrees over the next two days.
Thunderstorms accompanied by gusty winds of 30-40 kmph may continue at isolated places on October 30. No significant weather activity has been forecast for October 31.
