PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, April 21: The summer saviour Nor’westers is doing a vanishing act in Jharkhand, resulting in extreme temperatures in most of the districts.
On why is the Nor’wester playing truant, a senior IMD official explained that lack of moisture incursion into the lower layers of the atmosphere was preventing the formation of a conducive system over the Chotanagpur plateau for the birth of a Nor’wester.
“Nor’wester activity usually starts around mid- March. But this year, so far no Nor’wester activity took place in Jharkhand. The dry north-westerly wind is remaining dominant over the state and this was preventing moisture incursion, “, explained the weather department official.
The absence of moisture was evident in humidity levels, which dipped below 30 percent in most places. Jamshedpur and its adjoining areas recorded a humidity of around 24 per cent on Thursday while Ranchi recorded 20 percent.
Such low levels of humidity don’t help in triggering Nor’wester activity, explained weather department officials.
Last year, Jamshedpur, Ranchi, Seraikela, Chaibasa, Hazaribagh and Daltonganj experienced at least three Nor’westers in April.
The stormy activities usually begin from mid-March and continue till the end of May.
Nor’wester or Kalbaisakhi in local parlance usually takes place due to excessive heating of land coupled with heavy moisture. A single Nor’wester can drag the temperature down and keep it so for three days. The Chotanagpur plateau region is one of the genesis areas of Nor’westers.
This year, the situation is unusual. There is no sign of Nor’wester activity so far. Most parts of the state are experiencing a prolonged spell of above-normal maximum temperatures.
IMD Ranchi Met Centre this afternoon issued a forecast of thunderstorms and rain accompanied by gusty winds blowing at a speed of 30 to 40 Kms per hour in the next 48 hours
An alert of hailstorm was also issued at isolated places over northeastern, southwestern and central Jharkhand in the next two days.
