PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, Dec 3: A dense blanket of early morning fog disrupted normal life across Jharkhand on Wednesday, with Jamshedpur recording the state’s lowest surface visibility at 1,000 metres, according to the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) weather report issued this morning.
Second Consecutive Day of Lowest Visibility
For the second straight day, Jamshedpur recorded the lowest visibility in the state. On Tuesday, the city had reported an even lower visibility of 800 metres.
The IMD report, based on 08.30 am observations, shows that fog formation intensified across Jharkhand due to falling minimum temperatures and high overnight humidity.
Sharp Visibility Drop Affects Traffic
Jamshedpur, which recorded a minimum temperature of 11.8°C, witnessed a sharp drop in visibility during the early hours. Vehicular movement was affected on major routes including NH-33 and other arterial city roads.
Chaibasa Warmest, Gumla Coldest
IMD data indicates that Chaibasa reported the highest maximum temperature at 29.4°C, while Gumla recorded the lowest minimum temperature at 7.9°C, marking a significant dip and signalling harsher winter conditions ahead.
No significant rainfall was reported from any station in the past 24 hours.
Temperature Drops Across Several Districts
Districts such as Bokaro, Deoghar, Pakur, Godda and Hazaribagh also recorded temperature drops ranging between 0.5°C and 3°C compared to the previous day.
Automated Weather Stations (AWS) across Jharkhand reported clear skies, but strong overnight radiational cooling played a key role in the formation of widespread fog.
IMD Issues Advisory
The IMD has advised motorists to exercise caution during early morning hours. Authorities have urged the public to plan travel timings to avoid low-visibility periods.
With temperatures expected to fall further over the next week, more foggy mornings are likely across the state.
