Weathermen on Saturday hinted at an extended winter in Jharkhand, this year. Winter usually lasts till the second week of February in Jharkhand. But, frequent western disturbances are likely to extend the winter season for the state. The chill is likely to stay till February end, said weathermen.

Another western disturbance is brewing in the northern parts of the country and it is likely to impact the weather condition of Jharkhand and Bihar around midweek, February 16, Wednesday. "As per satellite study a fresh western disturbance is expected towards the end of this month.Therefore, we are expecting winter's stay in Jharkhand as till February end,” said a weather official at IMD’s Ranchi Meteorological Centre.

Weathermen on Saturday said that the minimum temperature during the next 48 hours would experience no change but thereafter it is expected to witness a rise by three to four degrees Celsius due to the impact of the western disturbance.

Both IMD’s Ranchi and Patna Met Centres on Saturday also issued an alert about rain and thunderstorm occurring in isolated pockets of the state especially in the north-western, central, and southern parts of Jharkhand around February 16.

Head of Ranchi Met Centre, Abhishek Anand said, "A fresh western disturbance would affect western Himalayan region from the night of February 13. It would impact Jharkhand's weather around midweek on February 16. The system would result in rain and heavy moisture incursion into the atmosphere."

Meanwhile, several parts of the state including Ranchi, Bokaro, Koderma and Hazaribagh on Saturday woke up to haze and moderate fog. But, weather became bright and clear later in the day. The Regional Meteorological Centre at Alipore, Calcutta, also predicted extended winter in Jharkhand.

“ Frequent western disturbances is impacting Jharkhand’s weather in February, thereby prolonging the winter season,” explained a weather official at the Calcutta-based Regional Meteorological Centre.