The possibility of significant precipitation in the city in the next couple of days is remote after rain-bearing clouds disappeared from the skies on Wednesday.

By the evening, skies were clear. Taking note of it, some residents predicted a dry Thursday. Weathermen put their seal on the people’s thought, claiming that the city was unlikely to get much rainfall over the next two days because of the southward shift of the monsoon trough line.

The weekend could be wet, though. The trough line is expected to be in a position favourable for good rainfall in the state by Saturday.

“On Wednesday, the monsoon trough line was passing from Rajasthan in the west to east-central Bay of Bengal in the east. It was around 300km south of Bihar. But it is expected to start moving northward from July 6. Light rainfall is expected at many places in Bihar, including Patna, on Saturday, followed by moderate to heavy rainfall over the next few days,” said Ashish Sen, director, India Meteorological Department, Patna.

The trough line is a low pressure area, which stretches from west to east. Areas falling south of this line usually receive good rainfall. Sen said normal rainfall is expected in the state when the trough line is over Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Gangetic Bengal and the Bay of Bengal.

Heavy rainfall occurs in Bihar when the trough line passes through UP, Jharkhand, Bihar, sub-Himalayan Bengal and the Bay of Bengal.

The rainfall in the past weekend has considerably reduced the rainfall deficiency in the state as well as in the city has made the weather moderately pleasant.

“The rain over the past couple of days have made the weather pleasant. A walk amid breeze and under cloudy skies in the morning keeps me fresh throughout the day. I hope there would be more rain in the coming days,” said Bablu Kumar, a resident of Gardanibagh.

Health experts, however, cautioned residents against getting frequently drenched.

“Frequent exposure to rain can lead to viral fever. Other common ailments include sore throat, respiratory tract infection and typhoid. People should take anti-allergic drugs in case of viral infections and consult a doctor,” said Dr JKL Das, a physician at Patna Medical College and Hospital.

The local Met department has predicted 101 (+/-9) per cent rainfall in July. The normal rainfall in the state this month is 508mm.