PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, Jan 15: Jharkhand continued to reel under an intense cold wave on Thursday as Gumla emerged as the coldest place in the state, recording a minimum temperature of 0.8°C, the lowest this winter so far.
The sharp drop in mercury underlined the severity of the cold spell across southern and western Jharkhand, with several districts experiencing temperatures well below normal.
Cold Wave Conditions Across Jharkhand
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed that cold wave conditions were observed in Daltonganj, Bokaro, Chaibasa, Gumla and Khunti, affecting daily activities and early morning routines.
Apart from Gumla, Khunti AWS recorded a minimum temperature of 2.7°C, while Daltonganj registered 3.7°C and Bokaro recorded 6.1°C, all significantly lower than their seasonal averages.
Ranchi remained cold at 9.0°C, about 0.1°C below normal, while Jamshedpur recorded 9.3°C, continuing the chilly trend in the Kolhan region.
Day Temperatures Remain Relatively Mild
Despite the freezing nights, daytime temperatures across Jharkhand stayed comparatively mild.
Chaibasa recorded the highest maximum temperature in the state at 28.0°C, which was 3.3°C above normal, followed by Daltonganj at 25.6°C and Jamshedpur at 25.2°C.
Ranchi recorded a maximum temperature of 22.2°C, slightly below the normal average.
Low Visibility Reported, No Rainfall
No rainfall was reported from any part of Jharkhand during the last 24 hours.
However, the Jamshedpur Meteorological Observatory recorded the lowest visibility at 1,500 metres, indicating early morning haze and stagnation of cold air. According to IMD data, no fog was officially reported at any weather station.
Why Temperatures Dropped Sharply
Meteorologists attributed the sharp fall in night temperatures to clear skies, dry north-westerly winds, and strong radiational cooling, a weather pattern that allows heat to escape rapidly from the earth’s surface during the night.
Such conditions are typical during mid-January and are likely to persist over the next few days.
Cold Wave Likely to Continue
IMD officials said cold wave conditions may continue in pockets of Jharkhand, particularly in plateau and forested regions such as Gumla, Khunti, Latehar and Simdega.
Night temperatures are expected to remain low, while daytime conditions will stay mostly dry with mild sunshine.
IMD Advisory for Residents
The IMD has advised people—especially elderly persons, children, and those living in rural and open areas—to avoid exposure to extreme cold during early morning and night hours. Residents are urged to keep themselves adequately warm and take precautions against cold-related health issues.
With Gumla recording 0.8°C, Jharkhand has witnessed one of its coldest mornings this winter, indicating that the harsh phase of the season is far from over.
