Patna: Residents in Bihar can expect pleasant weather in the coming week, according to Met experts.

Both the maximum and the minimum temperatures are likely to remain below normal and thunderstorm accompanied by rain is likely at isolated places in the state. Unlike usual summer days when dry westerlies remain the dominant wind at the surface, residents here can expect moisture-filled easterlies which would blow at a speed of 8 to 12 km per hour in the next five days.

"Several favourable conditions would contribute in keeping the weather pleasant in the state in the coming week," Patna Met office scientist Anand Shankar said on Sunday. The Met scientist said the moisture-laden easterly wind was keeping the temperature down.

The easterly winds would be blowing up to a height of 1km from the surface and it is happening due to presence on anti-cyclonic condition in the Bay of Bengal. When anti-cyclonic conditions prevail, a high-pressure area is created in the centre of the system and wind blows outwards from this system. In case of the present system in the Bay of Bengal, winds are coming from sea to the surface leading feeding of moisture in the local climate.

One more factor was helping in keeping the weather conditions comfortable for now. It is a cyclonic circulation which is prevailing at a height of 1.5km to 3km above the surface in Bengal and adjoining parts of Bihar.

"It was under the influence of these climatic factors that several parts of eastern Bihar received some rainfall on Saturday," Shankar said.

While Forbesganj in Araria recorded a rainfall of 14mm, Purnea received 2.4mm rain on Saturday. Even Bhagalpur (1.2mm) received some showers.

Shankar said thunderstorm accompanied by light rainfall was expected at a few places in the coming week. He, however, clarified that chances of hailstorm were very little.