Jharkhand’s Lohardaga records bone-chilling 3.2 degrees Celsius, mercury dips to 10.3°C in Jamshedpur

Cold wave grips Jharkhand as temperature dips to record lows

Jamshedpur: A severe cold wave has swept across Jharkhand, with temperatures dipping to new lows as the state continues to experience bone-chilling weather. The drop in temperature is attributed to the strong flow of northwesterly winds from northern India, causing a significant dip in the minimum temperatures across various regions.

The worst-hit areas include Lohardaga, which recorded a bone-chilling 3.2 degrees Celsius, and Hazaribagh, which registered a minimum temperature of 3.7 degrees Celsius. Several other districts, including Chatra, Ramgarh, and Khunti, also faced freezing temperatures, with the mercury hovering between 4-6 degrees Celsius.

The state capital, Ranchi, saw its minimum temperature fall to 7 degrees Celsius, while the Palamu region also experienced intense cold. Daltonganj, a prominent town in the region, recorded a minimum temperature of 6.2 degrees Celsius, adding to the widespread chill.

In the steel city of Jamshedpur, temperatures hovered around a low 10.3 degrees Celsius, while Bokaro registered a minimum temperature of 8.1 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, Dhanbad saw a sudden drop in temperature, with the automatic weather station recording a minimum temperature of 8.8 degrees Celsius. Deoghar, the famous temple town, also saw its night reading plummet to 6.7 degrees Celsius, further intensifying the cold spell across the state.

The chill is not limited to the towns and cities alone; several rural areas across Jharkhand are grappling with plunging temperatures, making it difficult for residents to cope with the extreme weather conditions. The Meteorological Department has indicated that satellite images suggest the presence of a trough in the middle and upper tropospheric westerlies, with its axis at 5.8 km above mean sea level running roughly along Long. 93°E to the north of Lat. 26°N.

The prevailing weather pattern is also linked to the ongoing cold wave, with the onset of a fresh Western Disturbance expected to affect northwest India from January 10. This new disturbance is likely to bring more cold winds to the region, further intensifying the chill in Jharkhand.

In response to the cold wave, local authorities and health officials have issued advisories, urging residents to take necessary precautions against the extreme cold. People have been advised to wear warm clothing, avoid unnecessary outdoor activities, and take extra care of vulnerable groups, especially the elderly and children, to avoid health complications like hypothermia or frostbite.

Experts suggest that this cold spell is likely to persist over the next few days, with further drops in temperature expected in several parts of Jharkhand. The combination of the northwest winds and the approaching Western Disturbance is expected to keep the state shivering in the coming days.

As the cold wave continues to grip Jharkhand, residents are bracing themselves for even colder nights ahead. The ongoing chill, combined with the likely impact of the new weather system, promises to make January one of the coldest months in recent memory for the region.