After observing cold wave conditions during the first phase of polling in Jharkhand, the weather is once again showing similar trend ahead of fifth phase of polling in the state on Saturday. Sixteen constituencies are going to the polls tomorrow and we can expect early morning hours to be really cold.
The minimum temperature in Dumka on Thursday morning settled at 6.8 degrees Celsius, which is 5 degrees below the normal. In Giridih, the morning minimum recorded 6.1 degrees Celsius, which is a whopping 7 degrees below the monthly average. State capital Ranchi was cold with minimum settling at 5.7 degrees Celsius, 4 degrees below normal. Bokara was another place where the minimum recorded 5 degrees below normal at 7.1 degrees Celsius.
These temperatures clearly indicate that cold wave has again gripped the state and large voter turnout during early morning hours will not be witnessed. It is only during the second half of the day when voting will pick pace as skies are expected to be clear with ample sunshine.
Maximum temperatures are also way below normal in Jharkhand and are expected to remain in the low twenties for next 48 hours.
Weather in Jammu
Almost similar weather conditions are prevailing in Jammu region, where minimums are settling below normal. On Thursday morning, the minimum temperature in Jammu settled at 4.5 degrees Celsius, which is 4 degrees below normal. Also there is a Western Disturbance likely by Saturday or Sunday but the activity region will be Kashmir and the higher reaches. Though, the system might affect the temperatures in Jammu region also.
However, we expect the people of the state to brave the cold and come out in good numbers to vote as they have done in the last four phases. In this phase twenty constituencies are going to the polls.
