Daltonganj boils at 44°C; IMD warns of lightning and gusty winds till May 24

Jamshedpur: Jharkhand remains in the grip of intense heat, with temperatures soaring above normal across several districts, even as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a statewide alert for thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds over the coming days.
According to the IMD’s latest weather report, Daltonganj recorded the highest maximum temperature at  around 44°C, followed by Chaibasa (42.0°C) during the past 24- hours.

Jamshedpur  recorded 41.8°C while  Bokaro recorded around 42°C. 

Ranchi registered a maximum temperature of around 39°C during the past 24- hours, while Namkum recorded the state’s lowest minimum temperature at 22.2°C.

Despite the sweltering conditions, isolated rainfall activity was reported in parts of the state, with Panchet in Dhanbad receiving the highest rainfall of 10.2 mm. 

Jamshedpur also reported the lowest visibility at 2,000 metres.

The IMD has forecast thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds (40–50 kmph) at isolated places across most parts of Jharkhand from May 21 to 24, excluding portions of the north-western region.

On May 22, stronger winds of 50–60 kmph are expected over the north-eastern and adjoining central districts, including Dhanbad and Bokaro, while isolated heat wave conditions are likely to persist in the north-western parts of the state, excluding Latehar.

Similar conditions are expected on May 23 and 24, with thunderstorm activity likely across most regions and intensified gusty winds forecast for Dhanbad, Bokaro, Giridih, Koderma, Hazaribagh and Ramgarh.

The weather department has urged residents to stay alert, avoid open areas during lightning, and take necessary precautions to protect themselves from heat-related ailments amid the dual threat of extreme heat and unstable weather.