Jharkhand weather: Thunder, lightning alert across all districts through Sept 20

Jharkhand is under a thunderstorm and lightning alert covering all 24 districts from September 18 to September 20, the weather department has said.

Rain is forecast to be light to moderate for most places, though heavy showers cannot be ruled out in some areas.

Gusts of up to 40 kmph are expected, mainly over southern and central parts of the state, with daytime highs of about 30 to 31 degrees Celsius.

Authorities have urged residents to stay away from open ground, trees and electric poles while storms are active.

In Ranchi, the minimum temperature is expected to stay near 22 degrees Celsius through the period.

Districts named in the alert include Ranchi, Khunti, Gumla, Simdega, Lohardaga, Latehar, Palamu, Garhwa, Chatra, Hazaribagh, Koderma, Ramgarh and Bokaro.

Giridih, Dhanbad, Saraikela-Kharsawan, East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum, Deoghar, Dumka, Jamtara, Sahibganj, Pakur and Godda are also covered by the alert.

Wind gusts of 30 to 40 kmph are expected, particularly across southern and central Jharkhand, during thunderstorm activity.

Maximum temperatures are likely to stay around 30 to 31 degrees Celsius, while the minimum in Ranchi is expected near 22 degrees Celsius.

Light to moderate rainfall is forecast across the state, with heavy showers possible at several locations during the three-day period.

Residents are advised to avoid standing in open fields, under trees or near electric poles while thunderstorms and lightning are active.

Farmers and outdoor workers have been urged to take shelter in sturdy buildings when lightning is seen or thunder is heard.

Ranchi recorded about 18 mm of rain on Tuesday, according to reported weather data, while Simdega logged 5 mm and Deoghar 3 mm.

The rainy spell arrives as the southwest monsoon begins its gradual withdrawal phase across India, though active weather can persist in the east for days.

The plateau districts around Ranchi, Khunti, Gumla, Simdega and Lohardaga are likely to feel relatively pleasant because of cloud cover and rain.

Ranchi lake, Jharkhand (representative image), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0