IMD's Ranchi Meteorological Centre on Monday afternoon issued a rain alert in Jharkhand in the first week of February.

The Met Office forecasts indicated a generally cloudy sky with the possibility of rain at isolated places on February 3, and rain across many places in Jharkhand on February 4.

Head of Ranchi Met Centre Abhishek Anand said the rain will be due to the impact of a western disturbance passing through northern India and the formation of an associated cyclonic circulation.

Weathermen said an active western disturbance is very likely to affect northwest India from February 2.

An induced cyclonic circulation is very likely to form over western Rajasthan on February 3.

In addition, moisture feeding on the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal to northwest India at lower & middle tropospheric levels is also very likely on February 2 and 3.

"Due to confluence between lower-level westerlies associated western disturbance and lower level south easterlies from the Bay of Bengal at lower tropospheric levels widespread light to moderate rainfall with thunderstorm and lightning is likely over Jharkhand on February 3 and 4. There is also a possibility of an isolated hailstorm over Jharkhand on February 4, " said a weather analyst at IMD's Ranchi Met Centre.

The Met Office forecasts indicate dry weather and clear sky in Jharkhand till February 2, Wednesday.

The forecast indicates a rise in minimum readings by three to four degrees Celsius in the next 72 hours.