Jamshedpur: The southwest monsoon gathered pace across Jharkhand on Friday, bringing widespread rainfall to several districts and prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue a four-day weather alert. The department has warned of thunderstorms, lightning, gusty winds and heavy rain at isolated places across the state until July 20.
Jamshedpur and its surrounding areas witnessed intermittent showers from early morning, providing much-needed relief from humid conditions. However, the rain also disrupted normal life, causing waterlogging in several low-lying areas, slowing traffic on major roads and reducing visibility for commuters during intense downpours.
According to the IMD, thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds reaching speeds of 40–50 kmph are likely to occur at isolated places across Jharkhand each day through July 20.
Heavy rainfall is expected in parts of southern Jharkhand on Friday, while Latehar and Chatra districts are likely to receive heavy showers on Saturday. Although no district-specific heavy rainfall warning has been issued for July 19 and 20, active monsoon conditions are expected to continue across the state, bringing frequent thunderstorms and moderate to heavy rainfall in several areas.
Meteorologists said the renewed monsoon activity has been triggered by a well-marked low-pressure area over the northwest Bay of Bengal and the adjoining Odisha-West Bengal coast.
The weather system, accompanied by an upper-air cyclonic circulation extending up to 7.6 km above mean sea level, is expected to move northwestwards over north Odisha and Gangetic West Bengal during the next two days, further boosting rainfall across Jharkhand.
The low-pressure system is also being strengthened by a favourable monsoon trough stretching across northern India, another cyclonic circulation over eastern Uttar Pradesh and adjoining Bihar, and a trough extending from the Bay of Bengal to the east-central Arabian Sea.
Together, these weather systems are drawing abundant moisture into the region, creating favourable conditions for widespread rainfall, thunderstorms and lightning.
Weather experts believe the current spell will significantly improve rainfall activity across Jharkhand, which has been experiencing a substantial seasonal rainfall deficit since the onset of the southwest monsoon.
The expected rainfall over the coming days is likely to benefit paddy transplantation and other agricultural activities, although the possibility of localized urban flooding in vulnerable areas cannot be ruled out.
The IMD has advised residents to stay indoors during thunderstorms, avoid taking shelter under isolated trees or near electric poles, and keep away from water bodies during lightning activity.
Motorists have also been urged to drive cautiously, as heavy rain may lead to slippery roads and poor visibility.
“The rain has definitely made the weather more pleasant after days of oppressive humidity, but it has also exposed the city’s poor drainage infrastructure. Just a few hours of rainfall were enough to cause waterlogging and long traffic jams at several busy intersections,” said Rakesh Verma, a resident of Sakchi in Jamshedpur.