The weather department has predicted a dry spell in Jharkhand till mid-week with the maximum temperature climbing up by four to five degrees above normal in many parts, including Jamshedpur and Daltongunj.

IMD's Ranchi Meteorological Centre on Sunday issued an alert of extreme day temperature for the next 72-hours.

"The mercury will witness a rising trend in the absence of any weather system. Most places across the state would experience dry weather with gradual rise in temperature by another two to three degree Celsius during the next 72 hours. There is no possibility of thunderstorm activity till mid-week," said a duty officer at the Ranchi Meteorological Centre.

Sunday's satellite pictures indicated a weak trough at 1.5 km above mean sea level running from Jharkhand to Madhya Pradesh. Weathermen said the trough is very weak to trigger any thunderous activity.

The maximum readings witnessed a rise in most places.

The maximum temperature in Ranchi and its adjoining areas was hovering between 38-39 degree Celsius for the last two days while the day's reading touched an oppressive 43 degree Celsius at Daltonganj and several other districts in North West Jharkhand.

Jamshedpur and several other places of Kolhan have been recording maximum temperatures of around 42 degree Celsius for the last two days.

Bokaro, Ramgarh and Pakur continued to record over 40 degree Celsius for the second consecutive day.

According to the forecast, the steel city was expected to witness a three degree rise in day temperatures in the next 48 hours or so.

Monday's maximum reading was two notches above normal.

Several other districts, including Hazaribagh, Koderma, Dhanbad, Deoghar and Dumka witnessed a rising trend in maximum readings.

Weathermen said that the wind pattern over Jharkhand was fluctuating between north-westerly and westerly, which would push up the day temperature.

Meanwhile, the weatherman at IMD's Patna Met Centre which too keeps a tab on Jharkhand weather did not rule out the possibility of another spell of heat wave in Jharkhand next week.

"Jharkhand has already witnessed a heat wave in the last week of March. We are expecting another spell of heat wave in the next couple of days due to the rising trend of maximum temperature," explained a weather analyst at Patna.