Jharkhand is expected to get colder in the coming days with the clear and crisp weather leading to a further drop in minimum readings in the next 48-hours, weathermen indicated on Saturday.

Several areas of the state, including Ranchi, Jamshedpur and Daltonganj, have already been witnessing a fall in minimum readings due to the northwesterly wind flow.

Most parts of the state saw clear skies and low humidity levels on Saturday, both conducive to lower mercury readings. Similar conditions are expected to prevail for at least the next 72 hours before the temperature moves northward due to the return of easterly winds around December 9, which will occur as a result of an approaching western disturbance.

Ranchi on Saturday recorded 11 degrees Celsius, a notch below normal. Bokaro too recorded mercury readings of around 11 degrees Celsius, two notches below normal.

The mercury nosedived to 10 degree Celsius at Kanke on the outskirts of Ranchi on Saturday.

Daltonganj recorded a minimum temperature of 10.9 degrees on Saturday, one notch below normal. Jamshedpur witnessed minimum readings of 13 degrees Celsius. The minimum readings plummeted to around 11 degrees Celsius in Dumka and its adjoining areas in Santhal Pargana region on Saturday.

Night temperatures hovered between 11-12 degrees Celsius in Dhanbad, Hazaribagh, Simdega, West Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharsawan.

"The Celsius is dipping because of north-westerly winds which usually leads to plummeting night readings," said Abhishek Anand, Deputy Director of Ranchi Meteorological Centre.

He said that the chill would last for another 72 hours at least due to the dominating north-westerly winds. After that, the wind pattern is expected to change to easterly, which will bring moisture into the atmosphere, he explained.

The forecast also ruled out the possibility of cloud formation owing to local effects and systems over the Bay of Bengal for at least the next three days.