The sub-1Sub-10 chill to subside across state from Sunday0 chill currently prevailing in most parts of Jharkhand is likely to be short-lived as minimum temperatures are set to rise from Sunday in most districts because of a western disturbance, according to IMD's Ranchi and Patna Met centres.

"A western disturbance passing through Jammu and Kashmir would impact weather conditions of Jharkhand and neighbouring Bihar from Sunday. The current north-westerly wind pattern would change to easterly from Saturday. This would result in moisture incursion and cloud formation," Abhishek Anand, the deputy director of Ranchi Meteorological Centre, explained on Friday.

The senior Met official did not rule out the possibility of light showers around mid-week due to the impact of the passing western disturbance.

Weathermen said the night readings, which were below 10 degree Celsius since Wednesday in most parts of the state including Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Bokaro, Dhanbad, Daltonganj, Pakur, Dumka, Koderma and Deoghar, would witness a two-three degree rise from Sunday.

Minimum readings in neighbouring West Singhbhum, Seraikela-Kharsawan and elsewhere would also witness a rising trend from Sunday.

Met officials at IMD's Patna centre which also keeps a tab on Jharkhand's weather conditions issued an alert of moderate to heavy fog, especially in districts located in hilly terrains for the next 72 hours.

"Dense fog has been reported from eastern and northeastern parts of the country today (Friday). Several pockets over eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and foothills of the Himalayas in West Bengal, witnessed dense fog due to the approaching western disturbance. Jharkhand too would be affected, " said a weather analyst at Patna Met Centre.

Met statistics revealed that Ranchi recorded a minimum temperature of 8.8 degree Celsius while Jamshedpur recorded 9.6 degree Celsius on Friday. Both Daltonganj and Bokaro recorded minimum temperatures of 8.1 degree Celsius, while Chaibasa in West Singhbhum district notched 8 degree Celsius.

Giridih recorded the lowest temperature in the state with the local IMD observatory putting it at 6.6 degree Celsius.