Mail News Service
Jamshedpur, Dec 3: As winter tightens its grip on Jharkhand’s western districts, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) — via its Ranchi Meteorological Centre — has issued a cold-wave alert for Palamu, Garhwa, Chatra, Gumla, Latehar, Lohardaga and Simdega for December 5 and 6.
According to IMD’s cold-wave criteria for plains, a “cold wave” is typically declared when the minimum temperature drops to 10 °C or below, or when there is a sharp negative deviation of 4.5 °C or more from the long-term normal.
In such situations, residents are advised to be prepared: lower temperatures, combined with wind chill and possibly clear, dry winter air, could make nights and early mornings particularly biting.
Expected Weather Conditions & Hazards
While district-level detailed forecasts are yet to be published, the following conditions are likely to prevail across the affected districts:
* Overnight and early-morning minimum temperatures dipping to around 8–10 °C or even a few degrees lower, especially in open, low-lying or less populated areas.
* Cold gusty winds — typical of winter’s advance — may amplify the chill through the wind-chill effect, making the perceived temperature even lower.
* Increased risk of fog or mist formation during pre-dawn hours — potentially reducing visibility on rural roads, affecting mobility.
* Health concerns: sharp dips in temperature can exacerbate respiratory ailments, joint pains, and other cold-related illnesses, particularly among the elderly, children and those with pre-existing conditions.
What Residents Should Do
* Keep warm clothing, blankets and heating arrangements ready — especially for night and early-morning hours.
* Limit exposure to cold and avoid unnecessary travel during pre-dawn or post-sunset hours when chill is likely to intensify.
* Keep windows and doors insulated, avoid dampness, and ensure vulnerable persons — children, elderly — remain indoors or wrapped in warm clothes.
* Stay tuned to local updates from IMD via newspapers, radio or official bulletins for any further advisories or escalation (e.g. from cold wave to severe cold wave).
Nationally, IMD has forecast a colder-than-usual winter this season across much of central India — meaning more frequent and intense cold-wave events than in recent years.
Regions like central and eastern India — including parts of Jharkhand — are experiencing normal to below-normal minimum temperatures, making them vulnerable to early cold snaps.
