Jharkhand is bracing for three days of rain and thunder, with the IMD alert covering all 24 districts from September 18 to September 20.
Rainfall is forecast to be light to moderate, though heavy showers may occur at several locations.
Gusty winds of 30 to 40 kmph are expected to accompany the storms, mainly in southern and central areas.
Highs of about 30 to 31 degrees Celsius and a Ranchi minimum near 22 degrees Celsius are forecast.
Officials have advised residents to avoid open fields, trees and electric poles during lightning.
Ranchi recorded about 18 mm of rain on Tuesday, according to reported weather data, while Simdega logged 5 mm and Deoghar 3 mm.
The rainy spell arrives as the southwest monsoon begins its gradual withdrawal phase across India, though active weather can persist in the east for days.
The plateau districts around Ranchi, Khunti, Gumla, Simdega and Lohardaga are likely to feel relatively pleasant because of cloud cover and rain.
Lightning is a leading cause of weather-related deaths in Jharkhand, which is why the meteorological office repeats safety advice during every thunderstorm alert.
The alert period runs from September 18 to September 20, 2026, and covers every one of Jharkhand’s 24 districts.
Districts named in the alert include Ranchi, Khunti, Gumla, Simdega, Lohardaga, Latehar, Palamu, Garhwa, Chatra, Hazaribagh, Koderma, Ramgarh and Bokaro.
Giridih, Dhanbad, Saraikela-Kharsawan, East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum, Deoghar, Dumka, Jamtara, Sahibganj, Pakur and Godda are also covered by the alert.
Wind gusts of 30 to 40 kmph are expected, particularly across southern and central Jharkhand, during thunderstorm activity.
Maximum temperatures are likely to stay around 30 to 31 degrees Celsius, while the minimum in Ranchi is expected near 22 degrees Celsius.
Light to moderate rainfall is forecast across the state, with heavy showers possible at several locations during the three-day period.
Ranchi lake, Jharkhand (representative image), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
