Mail News Service
Jamshedpur: A sharp winter chill continued to sweep across Jharkhand, with cold wave conditions, below-normal day temperatures and dense fog reported from several districts, as per the latest realised weather bulletin issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Meteorological Centre, Ranchi.
Daltonganj remained the most affected area, where a severe cold day was recorded. The maximum temperature there was restricted to 18.5°C, about 7°C below normal, while the night temperature dropped to 6.5°C. Cold day conditions also prevailed at Bokaro Thermal and Chaibasa, indicating prolonged exposure to chilly conditions during daytime hours.
In the state capital Ranchi, the maximum temperature stood at 23.6°C, close to normal, but the minimum dipped to 9.2°C, intensifying the morning and night chill. Jamshedpur recorded a notably cold day with a maximum of 21.5°C—nearly 5°C below normal—while the minimum temperature was 11.0°C.
The lowest minimum temperature in the state was reported at Ranchi AMFU, where the mercury plunged to 5.4°C. Jagannathpur in West Singhbhum recorded the highest maximum temperature in Jharkhand at 24.1°C.
No rainfall was recorded anywhere in the state during the past 24 hours, keeping the weather dry but harsh. Dense to moderate fog reduced visibility at several locations including Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Daltonganj and Deoghar.
The poorest visibility was observed at Deoghar, where it fell to just 200 metres, disrupting early morning road and rail movement. Automated weather station data indicated that minimum temperatures in districts such as Koderma, Hazaribagh, Gumla and Lohardaga hovered close to or below 8°C, suggesting that the cold spell remains widespread.
Meteorological experts attributed the prevailing conditions to cold northerly winds and clear night skies, which are typical during peak winter. The IMD has advised people to take adequate precautions, especially children, the elderly and those exposed to early morning travel, as cold and foggy conditions are likely to persist across Jharkhand over the next few days.
