Jharkhand is facing one of the worst summers with several places in north-western parts including Daltonganj experiencing severe heat wave condition. A severe heat wave alarm is set off by the weather office when the maximum temperature exceeds the normal mark by six degrees and above.
Daltonganj and its adjoining areas recorded maximum temperature of around 43°C ( seven notches above normal ) for the second consecutive day on Friday. Garhwa which too falls in north- western Jharkhand recorded maximum reading of 42°C for the last two days. Garhwa's day reading was five notches above normal.
"A severe heatwave condition is prevailing in northwestern Jharkhand. Loo and heat wave was also prevailing in isolated pockets of southern Jharkhand, " said a duty officer at IMD's Ranchi Meteorological Centre. The maximum temperature at Jamshedpur and several other places in Kolhan was hovering around 41°C for the last two days.
Today's maximum reading at Jamshedpur and Chaibasa in West Singhbhum district was four notches above normal.
It was a scorching Friday in most parts of the state with dominating dry westerly winds that prevented moisture incursion into the atmosphere and this was resulting in a Celsius surge. As per the IMD forecast the heat wave condition is expected to prevail in some places of north- western Jharkhand including Garhwa and Palamau for the next 24- hours or so. Today's satellite pictures indicated a cyclonic circulation over southeast Uttar Pradesh extending upto 0.9 Km above mean sea level.
There will be no respite from the sweltering condition as weathermen ruled out the possibility of rain or thunderstorm activity over the state during the next 72 - hours. Weathermen at IMD's Patna centre said, Jharkhand is in the grip of dry westerly winds, which is mercilessly spuring the day temperature.
“This condition is likely to prevail for the next 72 hours atleast, as we do not see any possibility of rain or a change in the wind pattern. Moisture incursion into the atmosphere is lacking,” explained a Met official at Patna.