PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, Nov 18: Jharkhand continued to reel under a spell of dry and chilly weather as no major synoptic system influenced the region on Tuesday.
Northerly to north-easterly winds dominated the lower tropospheric levels, reinforcing the cold and crisp conditions being felt across most districts.
The absence of moisture inflow and cloud cover ensured clear skies, allowing night temperatures to dip sharply in several places.
The state witnessed cold wave conditions at isolated locations, particularly across the western and central pockets.
Over the past 24 hours, the weather remained predominantly dry, though the intensity of cold was distinctly felt during the early morning hours.
According to data from the Meteorological Department, Chaibasa recorded the highest maximum temperature at 29.8°C, marking one of the few warmer regions during an otherwise cool day.
In contrast, Gumla continued its trend of low temperatures and emerged as the coldest location today, registering a minimum of 7.8°C. On the previous day, Gumla had dipped even lower, touching a minimum of 6.6°C.
Ranchi, the state capital, woke up to a minimum temperature of 11.3°C. Residents experienced a pronounced morning chill as cold winds swept through the region.
Jamshedpur recorded a relatively milder but still cool minimum of 13°C, while Daltonganj stood out with a minimum temperature of 9.3°C, firmly within the winter zone.
Visibility also took a hit in certain areas due to shallow fog in the early hours.
Ranchi reported the lowest minimum visibility of 1500 metres, a factor that mildly impacted road movement before improving as the day progressed.
With winds set to remain northerly and conditions staying dry, temperatures are likely to remain on the lower side across Jharkhand over the next few days.
Residents may continue to experience chilly mornings and nights even as daytime warmth offers some relief.
