Bare branches prepare to turn over a new leaf at Jubilee Park, while city residents (above) take cover as the mercury soars to 34.1°C on Wednesday. Pictures by Bhola Prasad

Shelve your woollens and rest assured that it’s finally farewell winter.

Weathermen on Wednesday announced the retreat of the season of chill after its dragging date with the state.

The Patna Meteorological Office, monitoring climate changes in Bihar and Jharkhand, indicated the arrival of bright and sunny days following a detailed analysis of the weather chart. “Winter has bade adieu. The wind pattern is heralding spring,” said director A.K. Sen.

The senior meteorologist explained that the state was in the grip of a strong pressure gradient, which was bringing dry winds at a speed of 25-30kmph. “The pressure gradient has been prevailing since Tuesday evening owing to a mix of low and high pressure zones. The gradient has been caused by frequent changes in the wind pattern and heating of the lower level of atmosphere,” he explained.

Met officials said this year, the cold spell stayed two weeks longer, the reason being the generous monsoon that preceded winter.

“A good monsoon paves way for a long winter. Last time too, winter had lasted till February-end, while in 2010 and 2011, it had withdrawn by the second week of the month,” said a senior analyst at Patna.

Another reason for this prolonged winter was frequent western disturbances. In February, these extratropical storms hit the state thrice, resulting in unseasonal rain. Local weather conditions also supported the cold snap, Met officials pointed out.

The Regional Meteorological Centre in Calcutta has also declared the official exit of the season of chill, with minimum temperatures soaring above the 13°C mark and staying so for more than 72 hours. “In most districts of Jharkhand, the night reading has crossed the crucial chill mark. So, winter is officially over,” said a duty officer.

Statistics revealed that minimum temperatures were fluctuating between 15°C and 18°C in Jamshedpur and its adjoining areas.

The reading had also soared above 14°C in Ranchi in the past few days. However, clear skies and frequent change in wind pattern caused a drop to 11.8°C in the capital on Wednesday. But, weathermen say the temperature would rise after 24 hours.

Minimum readings in districts like Dhanbad, Bokaro, Daltonganj, Koderma, Hazaribagh, Simdega, Deoghar and Khunti have crossed the 13°C mark. Night temperatures in these places have been hovering between 14°C and 17°C degree for the past few days.

Weathermen have said that with the exit of winter, both maximum and minimum temperatures will witness an upward trend.