Mail News Service
Jamshedpur: Jharkhand woke up to a sharp winter bite on Christmas morning as cold wave conditions intensified in several parts of the state and dense fog curtailed visibility at a few locations, the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Ranchi, said.
In the state capital Ranchi, daytime temperatures remained subdued, with the mercury peaking at 22.6°C, slightly below the seasonal norm. The minimum temperature stood at 10.6°C. Jamshedpur experienced a relatively warmer day at 26°C, though the chill persisted at night as temperatures dipped to 10.4°C. Daltonganj recorded a maximum of 25.1°C and a minimum of 8.1°C.
Chaibasa turned out to be the warmest place in Jharkhand, registering a high of 27.4°C. On the other end of the spectrum, Gumla endured the harshest cold spell, with the night temperature dropping to 4°C, officially marking cold wave conditions in the district.
Morning fog added to the wintry discomfort in Deoghar, where visibility fell to around 500 metres, disrupting normal movement during the early hours. The weather, however, remained dry across the state, with no rainfall reported in the last 24 hours.
Data from Automated Weather Stations reflected the widespread chill, as minimum temperatures hovered near single digits in several districts, including Hazaribagh (7.2°C), Latehar (7.9°C), Lohardaga (8.2°C) and Pakur (7.6°C).
The IMD has urged people to remain cautious, particularly during late-night and early morning hours, warning that cold conditions are likely to persist across Jharkhand in the coming days.
