Overcast skies over Gandhi Maidan in Patna on Monday. Picture by Jai Prakash

The usually cruel summer has sprung a pleasant surprise in mid-May, losing its bite all of a sudden. Better still, rain balm is in store in a couple of days.

The maximum temperature in the city is hovering around 35°C at present instead of usual 40°C and above around this time of the year. The continuous prevalence of easterly winds in the region is giving respite to residents from the scorching heat conditions for the past couple of days.

Weathermen have attributed the easterly winds to a trough line passing across Bihar as a result of cyclonic storm Mahasen. They claimed that the trough line was still strong. As a result, the easterly winds would continue to blow in the state till May 25 and there is a possibility of rainfall on May 22 and 23.

Ashish Sen, the director of India Meteorological Department, Patna, told The Telegraph: “The trough line associated with the cyclonic storm Mahasen is passing through Bay of Bengal-Bengal-Jharkhand-Bihar and Uttar Pradesh at present. Though we had expected it to weaken within three to four days from the departure of Mahasen, it has not. It is still persisting on the same position and is quiet strong.”

Sen said the trough line is almost passing across the centre of the state.

“Easterly winds are blowing in the northern parts of the state and few districts in central Bihar, including Patna. Southern Bihar, on the other hand, is experiencing westerly winds. As moist easterly winds block the solar rays from reaching the earth’s surface, the maximum temperature in most districts of north Bihar, including Patna, is being recorded several degrees lower than the normal,” said Sen.

Weathermen have further claimed that the easterly winds would cover the entire state by May 23, prompting statewide rainfall.

“The trough line would continue to persist for at least another three to four days. The westerly wind prevailing in the southern Bihar is also weakening. Thus, we are expecting rainfall in most parts of the state on May 22 and 23. Moreover, the easterly winds are expected to prevail in the troposphere till May 25,” he added.

The easterly winds would keep the maximum temperature under leash in the city till May 25. It would hover around 35°C.

As mornings and evenings are mostly pleasant and days are humid, physicians suggested people to take some precautions.

“Allergic manifestations like cough and cold, and flu are quite common these days. People should avoid flitting from hot to cold environment and coming in contact with dust or any other form of contamination. Moreover, intake of seasonal fruits is suggested to keep the body immunity strong,” said Dr Rajiv Ranjan Prasad, a professor of physiology at Patna Medical College and Hospital.