Clouds caused by a cyclonic circulation hover over Jamshedpur on Tuesday. (Bhola Prasad)

Jamshedpur, Oct. 19: Monsoon is going to stay in Jharkhand for at least another four or five days, weathermen here predicted on Tuesday.

“The withdrawal line of monsoon is crossing over Jharkhand. Our observations suggest that it won’t withdraw before October 23, making it one of the most extended monsoons in the last five years,” said Animesh Chanda, director of Patna Meteorological Office, which studies weather conditions in Jharkhand.

Statistics available of the last five years reveal that in 2009, monsoon departed from Jharkhand on October 20, while in 2008 it made a very early exit on October 12. In 2007, it departed on October 12 while in 2006 and 2005, it withdrew on October 13 and October 10 respectively.

According to Chanda, if the monsoon stays beyond October 24, it will be for the first time in more than 10 years that monsoon prevailed over the state for such a long time. Normally, monsoon lasts in Jharkhand till the second week of October. However, this year, it has overstayed due to the influence of subsequent low pressure formations over the Bay of Bengal and Orissa coast.

Weathermen at the Patna Meteorological Office said another cyclonic circulation was hovering over the state. “The cyclonic circulation will increase cloud coverage and might also result in intermittent showers at a few places over Jharkhand,” said a senior weather analyst of the Patna Met office. He, however, added that the cyclonic circulation was weak in nature and hence would not have much of an impact.

The Regional Meteorological Centre at Alipore in Calcutta also ruled out any immediate possibility of withdrawal of monsoon from Jharkhand.

“We see no signs of withdrawal of monsoon from Jharkhand before October 23. The withdrawal line of monsoon, which currently is passing through Dhanbad, has become stagnant for the last few days. The formation of subsequent low pressures is helping it in drawing moisture from the atmosphere,” explained a duty officer at the Alipore office.

Monsoon had arrived in Jharkhand on June 16, which was later than usual, and had remained weak until a surge in September. The deficit in July-August was partially compensated last month. The deficit this year stood at around 40 per cent during the monsoon season — June to September.