Patna: The capital city and several other districts of the state experienced heavy rainfall and thunderstorms on Wednesday evening, bringing immediate relief to residents following a week of scorching heat. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) indicates this trend will continue through the end of the week, with maximum temperatures expected to drop by 2 to 3 degrees Celsius across the state.According to the latest IMD district-level data, the focus of severe weather shifts to northern and eastern Bihar starting April 30. A high-intensity warning for thundersqualls, with wind speeds reaching 50-60 km/h and gusting up to 70 km/h, has been issued for Thursday. Araria and Kishanganj remain under specific alert for heavy rainfall.Several districts are under orange alert for thunderstorm and lightning, including Sitamarhi, Madhubani, Supaul, Araria, Kishanganj, Bhagalpur, Purnia, Banka, Jamui and Munger, among others. The yellow warning issued by IMD lasts till May 3, keeping day temperatures between 28 degrees Celsius and 39 degrees Celsius and night temperatures between 20 degrees Celsius and 26 degrees Celsius.The lowest minimum temperature on Thursday was recorded in Forbesganj, Araria, at 22 degrees Celsius, and the highest maximum temperature was recorded at 41.8 degrees Celsius in Bhabua, Kaimur.Meteorologists attribute the current weather pattern to a cyclonic circulation and moisture incursion from the Bay of Bengal. While the rain has mitigated recent heatwave conditions, officials have cautioned the public against lightning risks, particularly in rural blocks of the Kosi and Seemanchal regions, where activity is expected to be most intense over the next 48 hours.
