Cloud cover in most parts of Jharkhand cleared on Tuesday, signalling the likelihood of an abrupt fall in night temperatures coupled with morning fog and mist in some pockets of the state.

IMD officials said that favourable winter conditions had returned after about a week or so. "The western disturbance which resulted in clouds and unfavourable wind patterns during the past few days, have cleared. The weather will be dry with clear skies for the next few days,” " said Abhishek Anand, deputy director of Ranchi Meteorlogical Centre.

He said night readings would now plummet and there would be moderate to heavy fog in several districts, especially those in southern Jharkhand. He ruled out any adverse weather conditions at least in the next five days.

"A clear sky and dry weather will prevail in the entire state. This will result in abrupt fall in minimum temperature by three to five degree Celsius in most places," he said adding that with the moisture getting reduced in the atmosphere north-westerly winds would continue to dominate in most parts of the state.

Tuesday’s Met statistics indicated at fall in minimum readings. The temperature dropped to 12.8 degree Celsius in Ranchi and its adjoining areas. The capital had recorded a minimum of 16.3 degree Celsius on Monday. Met department forecasts at least another three degree fall in minimum readings in Ranchi in the next 48-hours.

Similarly, the minimum readings dropped to 16.2 degree Celsius in Jamshedpur on Tuesday against Monday’s 18 degree Celsius. In Daltonganj, the Palamau headquarters, and its adjoining districts, the minimum temperature dropped to around 14 degree Celsius against Monday's 15.

Met department forecasts three degree fall in minimum readings in both the places- Jamshedpur and Daltonganj in next 48 hours.

Weathermen at Ranchi warned of dense morning fog at a few isolated pockets of the state in the next two days.

Fog is expected to reduce surface visibility to below 1,000 metre. The north wind, which had stopped due to the western disturbance, had resumed which would lead to colder nights.

Depending on the intensity of the north-westerly wind, minimum readings could take a further plunge, hinted a weather analyst.