Eastern parts of the country, comprising West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar and Odisha are likely to witness winter rains on the 17th and 18th Jan 2024. North Odisha, Gangetic West Bengal and some parts of Bihar and Jharkhand are likely to break the jinx of prolonged dry spells. Rainfall activity will shrink significantly for the subsequent 3-4 days or it may pause even at most places. It is likely to resume, once again at the start of next week.
There is no major system as such moving across the region. This activity will be a result of interaction between the displaced anticyclone over the Bay of Bengal and Coastal Odisha and the northwesterly flow along the Indo-Gangetic plains and adjacent central parts. Outflow from the anticyclone, moist winds and dry stream of westerly end up with a convergence zone over these states. Lightening and thunderstorms are likely over the region. There is a chance of some hailstorms as well, at isolated places, more so on 18th Jan. Similar conditions may repeat over the area between 24th and 25th Jan.
The weather activity will not be widespread and very intense. It will mostly be confined to the late hours of the day and early night. Kolkata, Bhubaneshwar, and Ranchi may have the weather activity on the stated dates. Isolated and light weather activity will continue in the interim period between 19th and 22nd Jan 2024. Broad clearance is expected only after the Republic Day.
