Ranchi-ites are likely to get respite from the sweltering heat by the end of this week. Monsoon is set to hit Jharkhand shores by June 20 and cause a subsequent dip in the temperature here, weather scientists at the Meteorological Centre in Ranchi said on Sunday.
“Monsoon has already covered parts of Assam and West Bengal. We are expecting it to enter Jharkhand by June 20,” said SD Kotal, director, Meteorological Centre, Ranchi.
Kotal added that the increase in the humidity indicates that monsoon is around the corner. Wind blowing from the Bay of Bengal is responsible for the sudden rise in the moisture level in the city, he said. Earlier, during peak summer, wind blowing from Rajasthan and Pakistan caused heat wave in Ranchi, thus increasing the temperature.
“Some pockets of Jharkhand may witness pre-monsoon rains before monsoon enters the State,” Kotal said.
Moderate rains and thunderstorms hit parts of Garhwa, Latehar, Daltonganj and Ranchi with a wind speed of 30 Kilometers per hour. However, the rains only brought temporary relief from the heat and further increased the humidity. The maximum temperature in Ranchi on Sunday was 39.7 degrees Celsius, while Jamshedpur and Daltonganj simmered at 42 degrees Celsius and 43.8 degrees Celsius respectively.
The rise in humidity is likely to bring good news for farmers too as it indicates the possibility of heavy rainfall during monsoon.
The State has received sufficient pre-monsoon showers since June 2 this year, thereby making the weather conducive for sowing.
In 2018, the state declared 18 of 24 districts drought-affected. As many as 93 blocks were declared severely affected, while 36 were told to be moderately affected. As per weather experts, seven districts –Koderma, Bokaro, Chatra, Deoghar, Garhwa, Khunti, Pakur—recorded rain deficit of 40 per cent and above during monsoon in 2018. Koderma and Pakur districts received 55 per cent less rains than its normal monsoon quota. The delayed onset of monsoon caused a rain deficit of at least 33 per cent last year in June, which disturbed the sowing process.
“MET department’s prediction says that Jharkhand will receive 96 per cent of its ideal quota of monsoon rains this year.
This means that farmers will get sufficient rains,” said A Wadood, agro-meteorological scientist at Birsa Agriculture University in Ranchi.
The soil in Jharkhand is tough and requires sufficient pre-monsoon rains for softening, he said, adding that the increased humidity and moisture in the soil is beneficial for farmers at this time of the year.