A man bites into a cool slice of watermelon on a stifling Sunday in Ranchi. Picture by Hardeep Singh

Swelter cities, here’s your silver lining. Those dark clouds in the sky have, for once, come with the promise of good rain this scorcher season.

Weathermen have predicted showers — and relief from the heat wave — in the next 48 hours, thanks to local phenomenon and a low-pressure trough forming over Jharkhand due to excessive heating of land.

“Sunday’s weather chart analysis indicates thundershowers at a few places in Jharkhand in the next two days due to local phenomenon. It also indicates moisture incursion into the atmosphere, which will help in formation of more clouds,” said A.K. Sen, the joint director at Patna Meteorological Office.

Sen also hinted that isolated places, especially those located in hilly areas and plateau regions, will experience rainfall owing to a low pressure build-up.

The Patna weather office, in its regional forecast for the next 48 hours, has said the rain would bring much relief from the heat wave, which was triggered on May 16.

The heat wave alert has, however, been extended for another 24 hours at isolated places, where maximum temperatures are still 4-5 degrees above normal.

Statistics revealed that most parts of the state did not receive rainfall this month because of the dry and dominating westerly winds.

Jamshedpur received only 37mm against 117.7mm last year, while Ranchi experienced around 20mm compared to over 100mm. The dearth of rainfall has resulted in an unusual rise in day readings.

Weathermen hinted at a drop in maximum temperatures due to rise in humidity level and cloud formation.

“Clouds and high humidity have resulted in a drop in temperatures in the past 24 hours. They will result in thunderstorms at a few places,” said the duty officer at the Regional Meteorological Centre in Alipore, Calcutta.

He, however, ruled out the possibility of widespread rain or a Nor’wester in 72 hours.

Bokaro once again topped the Celsius chart on Sunday with 45.2°C, four degrees above normal. Daltonganj recorded 44.4°C, Jamshedpur witnessed 43.1°C, Dhanbad saw 43.4°C and Ranchi was 40.8°C.