The little respite that the residents of Jharkhand received from the gloomy rainy weather seems to be short lived. It is again being predicted that the State is likely to receive rainfall from January 8 onwards for a few days.
According to the Meteorological Centre, Ranchi there are chances of showers on January 8 and January 9.
“This time again the rainfall will be because of an induced western disturbance. The western disturbance is a permanent system and is present throughout the year and its frequency generally increases in the winter months. It is normally active at 30 degrees or above latitude but in the winter season it affects 30 degree and below latitudes as well. When this system is active, there are induced circulations which cause clouds and rain,” said Deputy Director, MET Centre Ranchi, Abhishek Anand.
During this system, dry and wet winds have an interaction forming clouds and rainfall. When this system is approaching, the minimum temperature increases while when it ends, the minimum temperature falls.
“Because of this system, on January 7 during the day it will be sunny while clouds will start forming in the evening in the northern parts of Jharkhand. On January 8 and January 9, there will be scattered rainfall across the State,” added the official.
Northern and central parts of Jharkhand are likely to receive rainfall on January 8. Parts of central and south Jharkhand will witness showers on January 9. The weather will be clear on January 10 and January 11 while tentatively another system of western disturbances is expected to be active from January 12.
Shallow to moderate fog will also be witnessed in many places across the State from January 10. There will also be a decrease in the minimum temperature increasing the chill across the State.
“The system of western disturbances which has recently occurred is not normal for this part of the country. Even though its frequency is more in winters, it is normal for North West parts of India but not so frequent for Jharkhand,” added Anand.
Because of this system the coldest day recorded was in Ranchi on December 28 with the minimum temperature dropping to 4.8 degree Celsius while the city was also declared as a severe cold day on January 1 with the minimum temperature dropping to 6 degree Celsius in the Kanke area.
The severe cold along with rains occurring in the month of January is also having an adverse effect in the agriculture sector across the State. The weather is having a dual affect on the crops. One is due to the prolonged chilling temperature in rural areas where the minimum temperature was around 5 degree Celsius and on some days even 4 degree Celsius.
“When temperature remains at or around 4 degree Celsius, there is a frost effect. In this the water inside the plant freezes which causes raptures to the plant. Many tender crops like wheat, mustard, chana and vegetables like cabbage, cauliflower and peas are being affected and the crops are getting damaged,” said A Wadood, an agro- meteorological scientist at Birsa Agriculture University (BAU), Ranchi.
Another major damage is being caused to potatoes which have just emerged and are being affected by the Jhulsa disease.
This is also the time of sowing many rabi crops as well as vegetables. The growth of the plants has been stunted and plants have wrinkled due to very low temperatures.
“As far as the rainfall is concerned, the rains have added moisture to the soil. This moisture will be beneficial for the crops in the rabi season when there is lack of irrigation facilities,” added Wadood.