PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, February 20: Jharkhand continued to witness dry weather over the past 24 hours, even as significant synoptic activity unfolded over northwest India, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Thursday.
According to the Ranchi Meteorological Centre of the IMD, a Western Disturbance — earlier seen as a cyclonic circulation over southeast Pakistan and adjoining west Rajasthan — has now shifted to north Rajasthan and adjoining Punjab and Haryana.
System Tilts Northward, No Impact on State
The weather system currently extends between 3.1 km and 7.6 km above mean sea level and tilts northward with height. An induced upper air cyclonic circulation, which was earlier positioned over southwest Rajasthan, has also moved to northeast Rajasthan and adjoining areas at around 1.5 km above mean sea level.
Despite these developments, the system has had no immediate impact on Jharkhand, where dry conditions prevailed across all districts. No rainfall was recorded anywhere in the state.
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Rising Day Temperatures
Chaibasa recorded the highest maximum temperature at 33.8°C, while Gumla reported the lowest minimum temperature at 9.8°C.
Among key observatories, Ranchi registered a maximum temperature of 29.5°C and a minimum of 14.2°C, both slightly above normal. Jamshedpur recorded 32.5°C and 17.4°C, respectively. Daltonganj logged 30.4°C as the maximum and 12.1°C as the minimum, while Bokaro reported 31.5°C and 15.1°C. Chaibasa recorded 33.4°C as the maximum and 14.8°C as the minimum.
The lowest visibility in the state was recorded in Jamshedpur at 1,500 metres.
Data from Automated Weather Stations also confirmed dry weather across Jharkhand. While early mornings and nights remained relatively cool in several areas, above-normal daytime temperatures in many districts indicate a gradual rise in heat as the season transitions.