Patna, March 1: A fresh spell of rain yet again prevented the mercury from rising while the city recorded the wettest day in March over the past 10 years.

After last night, the rain gauge at the local Met office recorded 33.4mm in the 24-hour period ending 8.30am today. The officials said this was the highest measure of rain in Patna on a single day in March and February over the past 10 years.

In this period, the earlier highest rainfall recorded in March was 25.2mm in 2011. Most rain that a day in February had seen was in 2007 (21.2mm). Last night, showers also occurred in other parts of the state. Gaya and Bhagalpur recorded 5.6mm and 2.8mm of rainfall, respectively.

The precipitation was caused because of the 13th western disturbance to hit the state this year. Western disturbances are low-pressure areas or extratropical storms originating from the Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea and Caspian Sea. Moving eastward, these cause winter rain in the northwestern Indian subcontinent.

Agriculture experts have claimed that these untimely showers are turning out to be favourable for several crops, vegetables and fruits.

Anil Jha, an expert associated with the agriculture department, said: “The rain is good for the growth of wheat, maize, some green vegetables, mango and litchi. However, farmers are also apprehensive about damage to the standing pulses and oilseeds because of the excessive moisture.”

Weathermen at the Met office said the overcast condition, because of the latest western disturbance, would prevail on Sunday too. “Though the cloud cover is expected to prevail on Sunday as well, there is less possibility of rainfall. The maximum temperature is expected to be around 24 degrees Celsius, while the minimum could be around 15°C. Easterly winds are expected to blow at a normal speed of around 2-4kmph,” said Ashish Sen, director, India Meteorological Department, Patna.

He added that next week’s weather is expected to be mostly bright and dry. The state might have witnessed more precipitation in the coming week because of yet another disturbance, but Sen claimed it is expected to pass through the upper latitude leaving Bihar untouched.

The nor’wester — a weather system that brings sudden thunderstorm activities in the summer — is also expected to set in from the second week of March.

Health experts have suggested residents to remain cautious in this season of intermittent rain.

“The temperature is gradually rising while it is also raining every few days. The human body, at times, does not easily adapt to such fluctuating weather. Problems like cough and cold, flu, asthma, lung disorders, headache and fever are quite common these days. So, the residents should avoid getting wet in the rain, must wear their woollens and not use fans. Special care should be taken of children and the elderly,” said physician Diwakar Tejaswi.