Several parts of the state, especially those in the southern and central regions, are expected to witness heavy rainfall (over 64.5mm) on Friday because of the impact of a western disturbance and a cyclonic circulation, currently influencing Jharkhand’s weather.

Both the Ranchi and Calcutta centres of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday issued downpour alerts in their bulletins.

The southern region covers places such as Chaibasa, Jamshedpur, Simdega and Seraikela-Kharsawan while the central parts include Bokaro, Gumla, Hazaribagh, Khunti, Ramgarh and capital Ranchi.

“We are expecting hailstorm and heavy rain in central and southern Jharkhand due to the impact of the western disturbance coupled with the cyclonic circulation. Another cyclonic circulation is brewing over Gangetic Bengal extending up to 1.5km above mean sea level, which too will impact Jharkhand’s weather,” said S.D. Kotal, director of Ranchi Meteorological Centre.

On Wednesday afternoon, the western disturbance and the induced cyclonic circulation resulted in moderate thunderstorm and rain in Giridih, Koderma, Chatra and Latehar.

In some places, the rainfall was accompanied by winds at 30kmph.

The local Met observatory in Jamshedpur recorded around 12mm of rain while Chaibasa and Chakradharpur in West Singhbhum recorded around 10mm between 8.30am on Tuesday and 8.30am on Wednesday.

Nimdih in adjoining Seraikela-Kharsawan district recorded 20.4mm of rain while the IMD observatory in Ranchi recorded 13mm.

Ramgarh, Lohardaga, Simdega and several other places experienced around 5mm of rain in the past 24 hours.

The Ranchi Met office has forecast generally cloudy with light to moderate rain at many places in the state on Thursday besides issuing an alert of lightning and hailstorm for the next two days.