Jharkhand: Brace for wet spell this week, expect lightning, says IMD

RANCHI: Most parts of Jharkhand will receive light to moderate rains accompanied by thunder in the next three days, the weather office here said on Sunday.
In its evening bulletin, the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) Ranchi office said light to moderate showers are expected between July 6 and July 8 in most districts of the state. It also said isolated places in central and northern Jharkhand will receive heavy rainfall and lightning strikes during this period.
The wet spell, which is likely to continue till July 11, is a result of a low-pressure area over northwest Bay of Bengal along the coast lines of Odisha and West Bengal. The monsoon trough is also passing through the centre of the low pressure area, making it favourable for bringing rains, the MeT office said in a statement.
Monsoon activity over Jharkhand remained normal till Sunday morning, with a few places recording heavy rain. Pathargama in Godda recorded 37.2mm rain till Sunday morning while Jamtara, Maheshpur, Massanjore and Panchet received 20mm rain each. Latehar, Maithon, Garhwa and Khushiyari recorded 10mm rains each.
Ranchi, which recorded less rainfall activity in the past 72 hours, witnessed a rise in day time mercury by three notches above its normal of 33.5 degrees Celsius. The relative humidity levels rose 92%, causing considerable discomfort during the day and night. Humidity in Jamshedpur also touched the 92%-mark as mercury hovered above its normal of 33 degrees Celsius.
Jharkhand’s cumulative rainfall average on Sunday remained normal, with actual rainfall being 7% less than the normal of 246mm. Seven out of 24 districts have deficits of 20% and above. Deoghar has the highest deficit of 63% followed by Gumla (50%), Sahibganj (41%) and Khunti (38%). Palamu has received excess rain to the tune of 103% followed by Garhwa (62%).