Jharkhand is experiencing an intensifying cold wave, with the Meteorological Department issuing a chill alert for Ranchi and 12 other districts on December 26. Residents in Palamu, Garhwa, Chatra, Gumla, Latehar, Lohardaga, Hazaribagh, Koderma, Khunti, Ranchi, Bokaro, and Ramgarh should brace for freezing temperatures. The state recorded its highest maximum temperature at 27.4°C in Chaibasa on December 25. However, Gumla bore the brunt of the cold, plunging to a frigid 4.0°C, making it the coldest location in Jharkhand. Minimum temperatures across 12 districts dipped below the 10°C mark, highlighting the severity of the current weather pattern. For Ranchi and its surroundings, minimum temperatures are predicted to hover between 7°C and 9°C from December 26 to December 29. Maximum temperatures are expected to stay around 22°C with lows near 7°C on December 26 and 27, with a slight increase anticipated towards the end of the week.
