PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, June 9: Jharkhand continued to reel under intense heat on Tuesday, with Daltonganj recording the state’s highest maximum temperature at 43.1°C over the past 24 hours. However, relief may be on the horizon as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast thunderstorms, lightning and strong winds across several districts in the coming days, while conditions are turning favourable for the advance of the southwest monsoon.
According to the IMD’s Realised Weather Report issued by the Ranchi Meteorological Centre, Jamshedpur recorded a maximum temperature of 41.3°C, while Chaibasa registered 40.8°C. Ranchi witnessed 37.2°C, around 1.5°C above normal. Minimum temperatures also remained above normal at most locations.
No significant rainfall was recorded at major observatories during the past 24 hours. However, among Automated Weather Stations (AWS), Sikatia in Deoghar received 39.4 mm of rainfall, indicating localised thunderstorm activity.
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Thunderstorm Alert Across Several Districts
The IMD has issued thunderstorm and lightning alerts for multiple parts of the state.
On June 9, isolated places in southern and adjoining central districts, including Ranchi, Ramgarh, Bokaro, Gumla and Khunti, are likely to witness thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds of 40-50 kmph.
Similar weather conditions are expected on June 10 across most parts of Jharkhand, except some north-western and adjoining central districts, including Koderma and Hazaribagh.
Stronger Weather Activity Expected on June 11
Meteorologists have forecast an increase in weather activity on June 11, with gusty winds reaching 50-60 kmph over north-eastern and adjoining central districts, including Dhanbad, Bokaro, Koderma, Hazaribagh, Ramgarh and Ranchi.
The remaining parts of the state are also likely to experience thunderstorms and winds of 40-50 kmph.
Thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds of 40-50 kmph are expected at isolated places across Jharkhand on June 12 and 13 as well.
Atmospheric Systems Driving Weather Change
According to meteorologists, the changing weather pattern is being influenced by multiple atmospheric systems. These include a trough extending from East Uttar Pradesh to North Coastal Andhra Pradesh through Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha, and another trough stretching from East Bihar to the northwest Bay of Bengal via Gangetic West Bengal.
Monsoon Advance Raises Hopes for Jharkhand
The southwest monsoon has advanced further into parts of the Arabian Sea, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
The IMD said conditions remain favourable for its further advance into Odisha, West Bengal, Sikkim and adjoining regions over the next two to three days, raising hopes of an early monsoon onset over Jharkhand.
The weather department has advised residents to remain alert during thunderstorm activity and avoid open areas during lightning events.