PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, Feb 9: Winter is likely to get prolonged in Jharkhand, hinted weathermen today.
IMD officials at Ranchi Meteorological Centre today said that the season of chill usually lasts till the second week of February.
But, frequent western disturbances are likely to extend the winter season for the state.
“Jharkhand is expected to experience extended winter. The chill is here to stay till February end, ” said an official at Ranchi Meteorological Centre.
Meanwhile, another western disturbance is brewing in the northern part of the country and it is likely to impact the weather conditions of Jharkhand and neighbouring Bihar between February 12 and 14 (Monday to Wednesday).
“Therefore, this year we are expecting winter’s stay in Jharkhand as well as in Bihar till February end,” explained the official.
Weathermen today said that the minimum temperature during the next 48 hours would witness a fall, thereafter it is expected to witness a rise by three to four degrees Celsius due to cloud cover and the possibility of rain.
Both IMD’s Ranchi and Patna Met Centres issued an alert of rain in isolated pockets of the state especially in the north-western, central parts of Jharkhand between February 12 and 14, due to the impact of the passing western disturbance at higher altitudes.
Several parts of the state including Jamshedpur, Ranchi, Bokaro and Hazaribagh on Friday woke up to clear and bright weather with haze at some places.
The trough in westerlies roughly along Long. 90°E to the north of Lat. 25°N persists and it was seen in satellite imagery extending up to 1.5 km above mean sea level.
Notably, the Indian Meteorological Department officially declared winter’s exit with minimum readings rising over 13°C for a consistent number of days.
The chill has intensified in Jharkhand during the past 24 hours with most places recording dip in minimum temperature.
Ranchi today recorded a minimum temperature of 9.7 degrees Celsius while Jamshedpur recorded a minimum temperature of 10.8 degrees.
Daltonganj today recorded a minimum temperature of 6.7 degree Celsius while Bokaro notched minimum temperature of 9.1 degree Celsius today.
