Ranchi

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday issued a ‘yellow’ alert for cold wave conditions in several districts of Jharkhand for four days, from January 13 to 16.

According to the IMD bulletin, districts likely to be affected include Garhwa, Palamu, Chatra, Latehar, Lohardaga and Gumla during the entire four-day period. In Hazaribagh district, the cold wave alert will remain in effect from January 14 to 16.

Cold wave conditions were already observed across parts of the state on Sunday morning, with minimum temperatures dipping below 10 degrees Celsius in eight districts as of 8.30 am, the IMD said.

Gumla recorded the lowest minimum temperature in Jharkhand at 2.8 degrees Celsius, followed by Palamu (Daltonganj) at 4.9 degrees Celsius and Khunti at 5.6 degrees Celsius.

Explaining the weather pattern, Abhishek Anand, Deputy Director of the IMD centre in Ranchi, said north-westerly winds prevailing in the tropospheric levels over Jharkhand were responsible for the cold wave conditions.

“No significant change in minimum temperatures is expected over the next 48 hours. However, temperatures are likely to rise gradually by 2–3 degrees Celsius over the subsequent three days,” he said.

On Saturday, Ranchi recorded a minimum temperature of 8.8 degrees Celsius, while Chaibasa and Jamshedpur registered 10.2 degrees Celsius and 11.4 degrees Celsius, respectively.

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Districts that recorded sub-10 degree Celsius temperatures include Ranchi, Palamu, Bokaro, Khunti, Lohardaga, Seraikela, Pakur and Gumla, the IMD added.