Jharkhand has seen a noticeably weak monsoon so far this year, and the state recorded 46 percent less rainfall than normal between June 1 and July 3, deepening worries over farming and water availability in several districts. But the weather department now says rain activity is set to pick up sharply from today, offering some hope to farmers and residents waiting for the monsoon to properly kick in.
Orange alert issued for today, gusty winds and heavy rain expected
The Meteorological Centre issued an orange alert for several parts of the state on Saturday. According to the department, various areas are likely to receive good rainfall today accompanied by thunder and lightning, with wind speeds reaching 40 to 50 kilometres per hour. The department has also forecast thunderstorms and lightning strikes across the entire state until July 7, meaning the next few days will be crucial from a weather standpoint.
Yellow alert for southern and south-western districts, caution advised
Heavy rainfall is expected at some places in the southern and south-western districts of the state, prompting the weather department to issue a yellow alert for these regions. Weather scientists have appealed to people not to stand in open spaces, fields, or under trees during bad weather. They have advised moving to a safe location the moment lightning strikes and maintaining full caution, since lightning strikes can prove fatal.
Sahibganj records the lowest rainfall, Dumka the highest
Looking at the rainfall numbers across districts this monsoon season, Sahibganj district has fared the worst. It received just 3.2 millimetres of rain between June 1 and July 3, which is 99 percent below normal. Dumka district, on the other hand, recorded the best rainfall figure of 207.8 millimetres during the same period, only 8 percent below normal. Ranchi, Simdega, West Singhbhum, and Jamtara districts have also received comparatively good rainfall. Meanwhile, Bokaro, Garhwa, Palamu, Hazaribagh, East Singhbhum, Koderma, and Chatra have received far less rain than normal.
Weather turns pleasant in Ranchi after sudden rain
In the capital, Ranchi, Friday morning began with sunshine, but the weather changed abruptly in the afternoon and several parts of the city received heavy rain. Temperatures dropped after the rain, bringing much-needed relief from humidity and intense heat. However, the rain also led to waterlogging in some urban areas, which affected traffic movement to some extent.
Temperature readings from across the state
Over the last 24 hours, the highest temperature in Jharkhand was recorded in Bokaro at 34.1 degrees Celsius, while the lowest minimum temperature was recorded in Latehar at 21.5 degrees Celsius. Ranchi's maximum temperature on Friday stood at 31 degrees Celsius and the minimum at 23.4 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, Jamshedpur recorded a maximum temperature of 33 degrees Celsius, Daltonganj recorded 29.8 degrees Celsius, and Chaibasa recorded 33.8 degrees Celsius.
