Rain, storm forecast for next three days

PATNA: Rain lashed several north Bihar districts on Thursday morning, signalling return of pre-monsoon showers in the region after a gap of five days.
According to the Patna Meteorological Centre, Forbesganj received 36.3mm rainfall till 8.30am followed by Muzaffarpur (12.6mm), Darbhanga (3.2mm) and Supaul (2.5mm) on Thursday.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) also issued alert for scattered rainfall along with duststorm or thunderstorm across the state over the next three days.

The showers were attributed to a north-south trough along with a cyclonic circulation over Jharkhand and adjoining West Bengal. A trough is basically an area of low pressure along a particular axis, which leads to showers.

The IMD’s all-India weather bulletin on Thursday afternoon said the instability in the lower levels in association with the north-south trough was likely to cause dust-raising winds over parts of northern plains during the next 48 hours.

It said the north-south trough was likely to strengthen and cause isolated to scattered thunderstorm or gusty winds or lightning over major parts of India from April 6.

On the nature of the expected showers in the region, the IMD weather bulletin said scattered to fairly widespread rainfall with isolated thunderstorm or squall or hailstorm were likely over parts of east and northeast India from April 5 to 7.

Private weather agency Skymet also reported on Thursday that pre-monsoon rain and thundershower lashed several parts of Bihar during the past 24 hours, particularly northeast Bihar.

According to it, on and off pre-monsoon rain is expected to cover many Bihar districts for the next three to four days till April 9. Few places may also witness squally winds and hailstorm, it said.

The Skymet said the maximum temperatures at present were in the higher 30s and would be seen dipping in many parts of the state in the coming days. Mornings and nights are expected to remain comfortable, it said.