The Steel City on Sunday recorded the lowest temperature of the season reducing the minimum temperature to 6.8 degree Celsius. On December 24, the minimum temperature recorded was 7 degrees Statistics revealed that on December 31, 2007, the minimum temperature had dropped to five degree Celsius.
According to local Metrological department the Celsius, which is seven degrees below normal would witness more dips in the days to come. Meanwhile, the city wore a virtually deserted look in the evening with most people preferring to stay indoors.
The officials said that similar conditions will continue to prevail in the city in the coming days. The poor people on the streets have been the worst hit by the cold wave. Footpath dwellers and poor were seen cluster around bonfires lit from dry woods, used tyres and even garbage to beat the cold.
“Though a slender sunshine gave respite in the afternoon but the cool breeze gave chilling experience. Nights are becoming unbearable,” said an official. Weatherman forecast that there will be no respite from the cold in the coming days. Significantly, both minimum and maximum temperatures were below normal all over the State.
Data available from the Patna Meteorological Office said that most parts of the state, including Jamshedpur, Ranchi and Daltonganj, were suffering with temperatures five degrees below normal. An official of Patna Meteorological Centre said that the high pressure belt is persisting in the entire Central India and this has impacted weather condition of Jharkhand alongwith other neighbouring states like West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar. “The cold wind from the North will continue to blow till the time the high pressure belt persists. The north-westerly wind, which is prevailing over Jharkhand, will prompt night temperatures to dip by at least two degrees in the next 24-hours. The downward trend is expected to continue for the next couple of days," he said.
Celsius in Ranchi and several other districts which are located on higher altitudes," he said. The low-pressure trough can help in formation of clouds and bring down maximum temperatures. The chill being felt at night will then also be felt during the day.
Meanwhile as winter’s chill slowly set in with delightfully cool breezy nights, the families from the Tibetan colonies are in the city to provide warm comfort with their woollen wears. The sudden drop in temperature during the past few weeks has increased up the sale of woollen clothes and the Tibetans are a happy lot.
