UditVani, Jamshedpur : Jharkhand is in the grip of a sharp and crisp winter spell, and the chill reached its most dramatic point at Khunti, where the temperature plunged to a bone-numbing 1.4°C, the lowest recorded anywhere in the state.
This frigid reading has turned Khunti into the epicentre of the current cold wave, underscoring how deeply the icy air mass has settled over the plateau and adjoining regions.
Across Jharkhand, both day and night temperatures have dropped well below seasonal norms, creating conditions that feel far colder than a typical January.
In Ranchi, the state capital, the maximum struggled to reach 20.4°C, while the minimum slipped to 6.4°C, making mornings and evenings uncomfortably cold.
Jamshedpur, though slightly warmer during the day at 24.0°C, also experienced a sharp nighttime dip to 8.0°C, reflecting the widespread nature of the chill across Kolhan and nearby districts.
What makes Khunti’s reading especially striking is how it mirrors a broader belt of near-freezing temperatures spreading across central and western Jharkhand. Gumla followed closely at 1.5°C, while Hazaribagh and Garhwa shivered at 3.7°C each.
Jagannathpur dipped to 3.4°C, and even Daltonganj in Palamu recorded a biting 3.5°C, well below what residents normally expect at this time of year.
These numbers confirm that the cold wave is not confined to a single pocket but has wrapped itself tightly around much of the state.
Daytime offered little relief. Cloudless skies and dry north-westerly winds have kept temperatures suppressed, preventing the sun from providing meaningful warmth.
Latehar saw a chilly daytime high of just 15.4°C, while Ranchi and Hazaribagh hovered near 19°C, making even afternoon hours feel wintry.
Chaibasa, with 26.8°C, was the warmest spot in Jharkhand, yet it too felt cool compared to typical January afternoons.
Adding to the discomfort, dense morning fog reduced visibility in parts of the Santhal Pargana region, with Deoghar reporting visibility as low as 800 metres, affecting early-morning travel and daily routines.
Despite the biting cold, no rainfall was recorded across the state, a sign that dry air and clear skies continue to dominate the weather pattern.
Meteorologists explain that the combination of clear nights, low humidity and steady north-westerly winds is allowing heat to escape rapidly after sunset, pushing temperatures down to unusually low levels.
With no immediate change in this pattern, the cold wave is expected to linger.
For residents of Khunti and the rest of Jharkhand, this spell serves as a reminder of how severe winter can become on the plateau.
People, especially the elderly, children and outdoor workers, are being urged to take precautions, as Jharkhand endures one of its chilliest phases of the season.
