Ranchi Meteorological Department Issues Orange Alert for Hailstorms in Jharkhand
The Meteorological Department in Ranchi has escalated weather warnings by issuing an orange alert, predicting severe hailstorms across various parts of Jharkhand. This alert is effective from April 5 through the morning of April 7, signaling potential disruptions and hazards for residents.
Districts Under Orange and Yellow Warnings
Specific districts, including Garhwa, Palamu, Chatra, and Hazaribag, are under an orange warning, indicating a high likelihood of hailstorms. For the remaining districts in the state, a yellow warning has been issued, suggesting less severe but still significant weather conditions.
Causes Behind the Severe Weather Forecast
According to Abhishek Anand, deputy scientist at the Ranchi MeT Office, this weather phenomenon is driven by strong western disturbances. He explained, "A low-pressure cyclonic circulation develops over the Mediterranean region and moves eastward towards Iran, Afghanistan, and then India. As it progresses across India from Rajasthan, it gathers moisture from the Arabian Sea. Upon reaching Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, it further collects moisture from the Bay of Bengal before moving eastward towards Jharkhand." This convergence of moisture is expected to result in rain and hailstorms accompanied by thunderstorms in the plains, while hilly areas may experience snowfall.
Recent Weather Conditions and Temperature Records
In the past 24 hours, the state has already experienced trace rainfall with thunderstorms at isolated locations. Temperature extremes were noted, with Jamshedpur and Daltonganj recording the highest maximum temperature of 39.4°C. Conversely, Gumla reported the lowest minimum temperature of 18.5°C. In Ranchi, temperatures ranged from a maximum of 35.8°C to a minimum of 21.6°C, highlighting the variability in weather patterns across the region.
Residents are advised to stay updated with official forecasts and take necessary precautions during this period of anticipated severe weather.
