PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, May 21: Jharkhand continues to reel under intense summer heat, with several districts recording temperatures above normal even as the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Ranchi, has forecast thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds across large parts of the state over the next four days.
According to the IMD’s weather report, Daltonganj recorded the highest maximum temperature at 43.4°C during the past 24 hours, followed by Chaibasa at 42.0°C, Jamshedpur at 41.8°C and Bokaro Thermal at 41.2°C. Ranchi registered a comparatively lower maximum temperature of 38.5°C.
The lowest minimum temperature was recorded at Namkum in Ranchi at 22.2°C, while Jamshedpur reported the lowest visibility at 2,000 metres.
According to the forecast, the maximum temperature is expected to witness a rising trend in several places on Thursday.
No significant rainfall was recorded in major cities during the past 24 hours, though scattered precipitation was observed in parts of Dhanbad and Jamtara, with Panchet in Dhanbad receiving the highest rainfall of 10.2 mm.
Thunderstorm, lightning alert across state
The IMD has issued a thunderstorm and lightning alert accompanied by gusty winds of 40–50 kmph for isolated places across most parts of Jharkhand from May 21 to May 24.
For May 22, stronger gusts of 50–60 kmph are likely over the north-eastern and adjoining central districts, including Dhanbad and Bokaro, while isolated heatwave conditions may prevail in the north-western districts, excluding Latehar.
A similar weather pattern is expected on May 23, with thunderstorms forecast across the state except the north-western belt, alongside continued heatwave conditions in north-western Jharkhand.
On May 24, the alert intensifies for the north-eastern and adjoining central districts — Dhanbad, Bokaro, Giridih, Koderma, Hazaribagh and Ramgarh — where gusty winds up to 60 kmph may occur, while thunderstorms are likely elsewhere in the state.
IMD advises caution amid unstable weather
The Meteorological Department has advised residents to remain cautious during thunderstorm activity, avoid open spaces during lightning, and take necessary precautions against heat-related illnesses as Jharkhand experiences a mix of soaring temperatures and unstable weather conditions.