Cyclonic circulation results in thunderstorm and rain in Jamshedpur

Jamshedpur, May 19: Several places including Jamshedpur and Seraikela-Kharsawan district experienced thunderstorms and rain this evening which was due to the impact of a low intensity Nor’wester.

Tall columns of thunderclouds developed over Jamshedpur around 3 pm with lightning and thunder continuing for about an hour. This was followed by sharp showers which continued for over two hours. The local IMD observatory in Jamshedpur recorded 5.8 mm of rain. Overcast conditions prevailed over Jamshedpur and its adjoining areas. Moderate rain of over 30 mm was also reported from adjoining Seraikela  and Khunti districts. 

Ripped branches of trees fell at several places in Bistupur, Telco and also in the city outskirts.  Areas serviced by Jharkhand Urja Vikas Nigam Limited ( JUVNL) in the steel city slipped into darkness after lightning and thunder.

” The Nor’wester which originated from north-eastern part of the state  was due to the impact of three weather systems. A trough of low pressure is stretched from north-west Rajasthan to Gangetic West Bengal across north Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand. Moreover, there are two cyclonic circulations- one over north-Chhattisgarh and the other over Sikkim and Sub-Himalayan West Bengal. The three systems intensified late last night and triggered a Nor’wester resulting in storms and rain in several parts of the state. The storm moving at a speed of around 40 Kmph later travelled to neighbouring Bengal resulting in thunderstorms and heavy lightning,” said a senior official at the Ranchi Meteorological Centre.

A low pressure emerging over the  Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm resulting in rains in Jharkhand and neighbouring Bengal next week, warned IMD – New Delhi on Wednesday.

A bulletin issued by IMD’s New Delhi office this afternoon  indicated  formation of a low pressure area over north Andaman Sea and adjoining  east central Bay of Bengal around May 22 and its intensification into a cyclonic storm -Yaas ( name given by Oman ).

Weathermen said the low pressure is   likely to intensify gradually into a cyclonic storm, move northwestwards and reach West Bengal and  Odisha coasts around May 26. This will result in rainfall activity particularly in southern and central Jharkhand early next week.

”  We are keeping a watch on the situation. If the low pressure intensifies into a severe cyclonic storm it will result in heavy rain in Bengal and Odisha and moderate rain in Jharkhand, ” said a weather scientist at IMD’s Delhi office.