PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, Nov 19: IMD’s Ranchi Meteorological Centre today declared complete onset of winter in Jharkhand as the minimum temperature dropped to 10.9 degree Celsius in the state capital Ranchi and its adjoining areas.
Statistics revealed that the minimum temperature nosedived to 10.3 degrees Celsius in Simdega and 10.4 degrees Celsius in Lohardaga.
Khunti recorded the state’s lowest minimum temperature of 8.8 degree Celsius followed by Gumla which today recorded night reading of 9.5 degree Celsius.
Minimum temperature across the state witnessed a downward trend during the past 24 hours.
Chatra, Garhwa and Hazaribagh today recorded a minimum temperature of around 11 degrees Celsius.
Statistics revealed that in most places the minimum temperature fell below 13 degrees Celsius, one of the criteria on the basis of which weathermen declare complete onset of winter.
Jamshedpur and several other places in Kolhan today recorded a minimum temperature of around 14 degrees Celsius.
According to weathermen, the abrupt fall in minimum temperature was due to the free flow of cold and crisp north-westerly currents.
The forecast indicated dry weather in Jharkhand in the next few days.
Ranchi Met Centre also issued an alert of moderate to dense fog in isolated pockets of the state in the next three to four days.
