It is likely to be a wet Independence Day this year.
For IMD's Ranchi Meteorological Centre has issued a red alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall (between 64.5mm to 115mm) over Jharkhand on August 15 and August 16 due to the impact of a low-pressure area over Bay of Bengal.
The intensity of rain will be more in southern and western Jharkhand covering the three districts of Kolhan (East and West Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharsawan), Simdega, Gumla, Khunti and Lohardaga.
Director of Ranchi Meteorological Centre S.D. Kotal said, "Under the influence of a cyclonic circulation over northwest and adjoining west central Bay of Bengal off Odisha and north Andhra Pradesh coasts, a low-pressure area has formed over North West Bay of Bengal. This would result in heavy to very heavy rainfall over isolated places in Jharkhand on August 15 and 16. Heavy rain is also expected in northern parts of Jharkhand on August 17."
Kotal said a north-south trough, extending 3.1km above sea level from north Bihar to west central Bay of Bengal across Jharkhand and Gangetic West Bengal, had merged with the cyclonic system. This would give further momentum to the rainfall activity.
On Thursday, the monsoon trough at mean sea level passed through Chaibasa in neighbouring West Singhbhum.
Meteorological data suggest that southwest monsoon activity was normal over Jharkhand during the past 24 hours. The highest rainfall was recorded at Latehar at 87.8 mm. Koderma, Daltonganj and Godda recorded moderate rainfall.
Weathermen at IMD's Regional Meteorological Centre at Alipore in Calcutta also predicted heavy showers in Jharkhand on August 15 and 16.
" The low-pressure area has formed over north west Bay of Bengal off Odisha and West Bengal coasts. It will trigger heavy rainfall in Jharkhand this weekend," said a duty officer at the Calcutta weather office.
Weatherman said the downpour will help in bringing down the rain deficit in Jharkhand which was currently at 14 per cent. So far, Jharkhand has received 565.3 mm rain against a normal of 655.4 mm, leading to a deficit.
