Sudden Weather Shift Darkens Bihar Skies; IMD Issues Alerts Across Multiple Districts
Patna: A sudden and dramatic change in the weather caught residents across Bihar by surprise on Monday afternoon, with dark clouds, gusty winds, and rainfall turning day into night in many parts of the state.
Several districts, including Patna, Siwan, Saran, and Jehanabad, witnessed an abrupt weather shift, accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning. The strong winds and showers brought temporary relief from the heat but caused inconvenience as streets in areas such as Gandhi Maidan, Kankarbagh, Kadamkuan, and Nehru Path were left waterlogged. Visibility dropped significantly, forcing motorists to switch on headlights during the day.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Muzaffarpur, Samastipur, Vaishali, and Patna, warning of heavy rain and thunderstorms. A yellow alert remains in place for 20 districts, including Patna, forecasting light rain and thunderstorms over the next 24 hours.
An orange alert has also been issued for Khagaria, Bhagalpur, Munger, Jamui, and Banka, where wind speeds are expected to range between 50–80 kmph, along with lightning and thunderstorm activity. Meanwhile, other parts of the state, including the capital, are under a yellow alert for winds of 40–50 kmph.
According to the IMD, similar weather conditions are expected to persist for the next four days, with no significant change in temperature anticipated. A cyclonic circulation extending from western Madhya Pradesh to Bangladesh through Jharkhand and Gangetic West Bengal is influencing the weather. Additionally, a western disturbance is expected to impact the Himalayan region on April 16, which could further trigger rainfall and thunderstorm activity in Bihar.
Rainfall Data Over the Last 24 Hours
Heavy downpours were recorded in parts of Bihar:
- Kuchaykot (Gopalganj): 38.6 mm
- Daraunda (Siwan): 30.4 mm
- Bhore: 28.8 mm
- Bagaha: 28.4 mm
- Maharajganj: 27.0 mm
- Purnia: 10.5 mm
- Gopalganj: 10.0 mm
Other notable rainfall figures:
- Patna: 0.4 mm
- Gaya: 10.2 mm
- Dehri: 0.6 mm
- Sheikhpura: 0.5 mm
- Rajgir: 13.5 mm
- Bikramganj (Rohtas): 5.5 mm
Temperature Snapshot (°C)
City – Max – Min
Patna – 34.2 – 23.7
Gaya – 36.6 – 21.6
Bhagalpur – 33.3 – 22.6
Muzaffarpur – 33.6 – 23.3
Patna’s maximum temperature dropped by 5.2°C below normal, while Gaya recorded the highest maximum at 36.6°C.
