The arrival of the south-west monsoon has rapidly changed the weather across Bihar. According to the latest bulletin from the Patna meteorological centre, the monsoon's northern limit is currently passing over Muzaffarpur and Dhanbad. Forecasters believe conditions are fully favourable for the monsoon to advance into the rest of the state over the next 4 to 5 days. As a result, thunderstorms and rainfall are expected to pick up pace across most of Bihar during the next 24 to 48 hours.
Four Districts Face the Highest Risk
The IMD has issued its sternest warning for four districts — Bhagalpur, Katihar, Kishanganj and Purnia. These districts could see heavy rain accompanied by thunder and lightning at one or two places, along with gusty winds blowing at 50 to 60 kilometres per hour. An orange alert has been put out for these areas, urging residents to stay cautious.
Elsewhere, other districts in the north-central, north-east and south-east parts of the state may also record light to moderate rain at several locations, accompanied by strong winds of 40 to 50 kilometres per hour.
How Much Rain Fell in the Last 24 Hours
Data from the past 24 hours shows that Kishanganj and Rohtas districts received heavy rainfall. Apart from the north-west, the rest of Bihar saw light to moderate showers. The main rainfall figures were:
- Sasaram — 76.8 mm
- Galgalia — 75.8 mm
- Dehri (Rohtas) — 67.8 mm
- Shivsagar — 56.4 mm
- Obra — 55.2 mm
- Akbarpur — 45.2 mm
- Thakurganj — 41.2 mm
- Madhepura — 20.5 mm
The weather department says cloud cover will persist over these areas tomorrow as well, with intermittent showers continuing.
Kaimur Crosses 40°C, Nalanda Hit by 61 kmph Winds
On the temperature front, the highest reading over the past 24 hours was recorded in Kaimur (Bhabhua) at 40.0°C. The state's average maximum temperature stayed between 35.1°C and 40.0°C, while the lowest minimum was logged in Dehri at 23.5°C. The good news is that no major swing in temperature is expected tomorrow, and both maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to hold steady over the next 3-4 days.
In another notable development, the maximum wind speed in Nalanda district shot up to 61 kilometres per hour, turning the weather there suddenly cold and dusty.
What Kind of Damage Is Feared
According to forecasters, strong winds and heavy rain could damage kutcha houses, slum dwellings and tin roofs. Low-lying parts of urban areas may face waterlogging, and a slight rise in river water levels is also possible.
Key Safety Advice From the Weather Department
To stay safe from lightning and rough weather, the department has urged people to follow some important precautions:
- During lightning: When thunder or lightning strikes, avoid standing in open fields or near tall trees, electric poles or transformers, and keep your distance from them.
- Act immediately: If the weather suddenly worsens, move without delay into a pucca house, a sturdy building or a safe shelter.
- Electrical devices: Given the threat of lightning strikes, unplug all sensitive electrical appliances and electronic plugs from the main board to avoid short circuits or major damage.
- Waterlogging and floods: Completely avoid heading towards flash-flood-prone areas or heavily waterlogged roads and pits, as the risk of an accident is highest there.
