Overcast skies in Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Bokaro and several other parts of Jharkhand on Monday held out the promise of rain and thundershowers in the next 48 hours.

Weathermen attributed their forecast to two systems - a cyclonic circulation over Assam and Meghalaya, and a low-pressure trough over Madhya Pradesh. Chart analyses at the IMD offices in Patna and Ranchi also indicated formation of convective clouds in some places, prompting a thunder-squall alert in isolated pockets in the next 24 hours.

"The cyclonic circulation over Assam-Meghalaya and low pressure over Madhya Pradesh are leading to heavy moisture incursion into the atmosphere," said Upendra Srivastava, a senior official at Ranchi Meteorological Centre.

Srivastava added that the wind pattern was favourable for showers. "We are expecting rainfall activity in the next 48 hours owing to the confluence of northerly and southerly winds."

The squall, Met officials said, was expected to gain a speed of 60kmph. They did not rule out the possibility of hailstorms in isolated areas.

The Alipore Regional Meteorological Centre in Calcutta said a local weather system was helping in formation of convective clouds in Jharkhand. "Partly cloudy weather will continue to prevail for two days. Satellite pictures and chart analysis indicate possibility of rain," a duty officer confirmed.

On Monday, Ranchi witnessed a rise in both maximum and minimum temperatures. The daytime high was around 33°C against 31°C on Sunday. The night reading was around 18°C, one degree up in 24 hours. There was, however, no change in Jamshedpur's maximum temperature of 37°C while the minimum reading rose to around 23°C from around 20°C, courtesy cloud cover.

The Patna Meteorological Centre also forecast rain in Jharkhand. "The state will witness light rain and thunderstorm activities in the next 48 hours," said a weatherman.

Residents welcomed the cloaked sky.

"It had been a bit stifling for the past couple of days. Now, all of a sudden, the weather has become so pleasant," said Aditi Sharma who lives in Bistupur, Jamshedpur.