The meteorological department on Wednesday forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall for the next two days, but held out the hope of a dry Diwali in most parts of Jharkhand.

Weathermen said the rain that began in several places, including Ranchi and Jamshedpur, on Wednesday because of the impact of a well-marked low pressure was set to intensify in the next two days.

On Wednesday, the Met department issued a special bulletin of heavy to very heavy rainfall in the next two days. However, the impact of the lower pressure is expected to wane from October 26.This year, Diwali falls on October 27.

“We are expecting partly cloudy sky in places such as Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Dhanbad and Bokaro on the day of Diwali. Possibility of rain is ruled out on that day as the impact of the low pressure will wane by then,” said S.D. Kotal, director of Ranchi Meteorological Centre.

In the sector-wise forecast issued on Wednesday afternoon, the IMD’s Ranchi centre hinted at dry weather in most parts of the state on the day of Diwali. However, a senior climate analyst at Patna Met centre expressed apprehensions.

“One or two isolated places in southern Jharkhand (Kolhan region) may witness light showers triggered by the moisture and clouds left behind by the low pressure on the day of Diwali.”

The low pressure area was on Wednesday hovering over west central Bay of Bengal off Andhra Pradesh coast. An associated cyclonic circulation was also extending up to mid-tropospheric level. The twin system is expected to trigger heavy to very heavy rainfall (64.5-204.4mm) at isolated places of western (Simdega, Gumla, Latehar, Lohardaga), Central (Ranchi, Khunti, Ramgarh, Bokaro, Dhanbad, Jamtara) and northern parts (Chatra, Hazaribagh, Koderma, Giridih) of the state.

On Dhanteras (October 25), heavy rain (64.5-115.5mm) is likely to lash isolated places of western (Simdega, Gumla, Latehar, Lohardaga, Garwa, Palamau), central (Ranchi, Khunti, Ramgarh, Bokaro, Dhanbad, Jamtara), northern and northeastern parts (Chatra, Hazaribagh, Koderma, Giridih, Deoghar, Dumka, Godda, Sahibganj and Pakur).

Statistics revealed that dry weather prevailed over Jharkhand in the past 24 hours (from 8.30am on Tuesday to 8.30am of Wednesday).

Most Met observatories of the IMD across the state recorded no rain in the past 24 hours.

However, intermittent shower due to the impact of the low pressure began this afternoon in several places including Ranchi, Jamshedpur , Hazaribagh, Koderma, Dhanbad and Bokaro. The sky was overcast in most parts of the state.