PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, April 2: The north-western parts of Jharkhand are in the grip of a severe heatwave condition with day’s reading notching over 43-degree celsius in Daltonganj and its adjoining areas.
The local IMD observatory in Daltonganj had recorded 43.4 degrees Celsius on Friday.
Data available from Ranchi Meteorological Centre revealed that Daltonganj, the Palamau headquarters created a record of the highest temperature of the decade in March.
Daltonganj considered the heating chamber of Jharkhand had recorded 42.9 degrees Celsius on March 31.
As per Met records, it is the second-highest temperature ever during the period 1886- 2022.
Last year too heat wave was reported in March but that was not severe. No heatwave was reported in 2020.
A severe heatwave is declared when the maximum temperature exceeds the normal mark by six degrees and above.
Daltonganj and its adjoining areas recorded a maximum temperature of 43°C ( seven notches above normal ) for the second consecutive day on Friday.
Garhwa which too falls in northwestern Jharkhand recorded maximum reading of 42°C for the last two days. Garhwa’s day reading was five notches above normal.
“A severe heatwave condition is prevailing in northwestern Jharkhand. Loo and heatwave were also prevailing in isolated pockets of southern Jharkhand, ” said a duty officer at IMD’s Ranchi Meteorological Centre.
The maximum temperature at Jamshedpur and several other places in Kolhan was hovering around 41°C for the last two days.
It was a scorching Saturday in most parts of the state with dominating dry westerly winds that prevented moisture incursion into the atmosphere and this was resulting in a Celsius surge.
As per the IMD forecast, the heatwave condition is expected to prevail in some places of northwestern Jharkhand including Garhwa and Palamau for the next 24- hours.
Today’s satellite pictures indicated a cyclonic circulation over southeast Uttar Pradesh extending up to 0.9 Km above means sea level.
There will be no respite from the sweltering condition as weathermen ruled out the possibility of rain or thunderstorm activity over the state during the next 72 – hours.
