Even before the monsoon formally sets in, Jharkhand's skies have begun to shift. The state is set to experience two very different kinds of weather on the same day: the eastern districts and the Santal Pargana belt are bracing for thunderstorms, gusty winds and lightning, while the north-western stretch continues to swelter under harsh sun and humidity.
According to the IMD, the maximum temperature across most parts of the state will hover between 34 and 40°C today, with the minimum settling somewhere between 24 and 29°C. The weather department has put out alerts for rain, squalls and lightning across several regions of Jharkhand.
Rain on the cards in 9 districts
The Ranchi meteorological centre expects light to moderate rain to persist through the day across much of the Santal Pargana region and eastern Jharkhand. A rain alert has been issued for a total of 9 districts, including Deoghar, Dumka and Jamtara. The list also covers Godda, Pakur, Sahibganj, Dhanbad, Giridih and Bokaro, along with East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum and Saraikela-Kharsawan, where some areas could see decent spells of rain. On top of that, the southern Singhbhum belt, Saraikela and the Ranchi-Khunti-Gumla zone may also receive showers accompanied by thunder.
A special warning on storms
The weather office has flagged the likelihood of strong winds and lightning across most districts of the state today. In some pockets, wind speeds could climb to between 40 and 60 kilometres per hour — fast enough to pose a threat to trees, electric poles and open structures. For that reason, people have been urged to keep away from open grounds, trees and electricity poles when the weather turns. Given the combination of squalls and rain, the IMD has issued a special advisory to stay cautious.
No relief from heat in the north-west
Despite the rain activity elsewhere, north-western Jharkhand sees little respite. Daytime temperatures in Palamu, Garhwa, Chatra and Latehar are likely to stay higher than in the rest of the state. The Palamu region has been the hottest part of Jharkhand in recent days, with Daltonganj's mercury crossing the 40 degree Celsius mark on several occasions. In these districts the maximum could touch 41°C, while the minimum is expected to stay around 36°C.
Pleasant weather in these districts
Thanks to the rain and cloud cover, the weather is expected to turn relatively pleasant in Ranchi, Khunti, Simdega, Gumla, Lohardaga, West Singhbhum and East Singhbhum. Temperatures here may dip below normal, giving people a welcome break from the heat and leaving a cooler feel in the air.
Where it rained on June 13
Pre-monsoon activity has already been at work in several parts of Jharkhand. The Ranchi meteorological centre had earlier forecast heavy rain in Dumka, Deoghar, Jamtara, Dhanbad, Sahibganj, Pakur and Godda. Beyond these districts, several areas of eastern and southern Jharkhand also recorded light to moderate rainfall, which pulled temperatures down and offered some relief from the blistering heat.
