IMD's Ranchi Meteorological Centre on Tuesday predicted a dry spell in Jharkhand till Saturday with the maximum temperature likely to climb by two to three degrees Celsius in the next 72 hours in many parts of the state, including Jamshedpur, Ranchi, Daltongunj, Dumka and Hazaribagh.

Weathermen said mercury will witness a rising trend in the absence of any weather system.

A duty officer at Ranchi Met Centre predicted thundershowers after March 12 due to changes in local weather conditions.

On Tuesday, maximum readings witnessed a rise in most places. The Celsius is expected to rise another 2-3 degrees Celsius in the next 72-hours, weathermen in Patna said.

Ranchi recorded a maximum temperature of around 31 degrees Celsius on Tuesday against Monday's 29.5 degrees. The maximum reading in the capital was around a notch above normal on Tuesday.

Jamshedpur continued to record over 33 degrees 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 72 hours or so.

In Daltonganj too the day reading witnessed a rise. The local IMD observatory in Daltonganj recorded around 33 degrees Celsius against Monday's 28.5 degrees.

Several other districts, including Dhanbad, Bokaro, Hazaribagh, Koderma, Deoghar, Ramgarh 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.