The weather department on Friday afternoon issued a rain and hailstorm alert in Jharkhand for the next 24-hours. Officials at local IMD office have issued a report mentioning two atmospheric systems.

"As per our study a cyclonic circulation due to the impact of western disturbance was extending upto 1.5 km above mean sea level over  east Rajasthan and adjoining northwest Madhya Pradesh. This coupled with an anti-cyclonic circulation over the Bay of Bengal is resulting in heavy moisture into the atmosphere. The twin systems would result in formation of clouds and a change in wind pattern from north-westerly to southerly resulting in adverse weather over Jharkhand," said an official of Meteorological Centre.

 The Met office official said light to moderate rain and thunder showers were  likely at few places, especially in the district of North Jharkhand during the next 24 hours. Light to moderate rain and thunder would also take place at a few isolated places in  southeast Jharkhand. "As per our requirement we have also issued an alert of hail accompanied with thunderstorm and lightening  at a few isolated places  during the next 24 hours," said the official. IMD's Patna office has also issued an alert of hail and thundershowers for Jharkhand during the next 24 hours. " As per our study th cyclonic circulation would result  in light to moderate rain at a few places over Jharkhand with wind speed reaching 20-25 Kmph" said an IMD official at Patna.

The official went on to say that the adverse weather would prolong winter's stay in Jharkhand. " Winter departs Jharkhand by mid-February. But, the current change in weather system would extend the winter in Jharkhand," said the official. He added that winter might get extended beyond February 22 as they were expecting another western disturbance which would impact Jharkhand's weather around that time.