Ranchi: A yellow alert for very heavy rainfall was issued for six southern districts of Jharkhand for Friday, the Ranchi office of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Thursday.According to the weather bulletin released on Thursday, IMD issued the alert for Gumla, Khunti, Seraikela Kharsawan, East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum, and Simdega, from 8:30 am on Friday till 8:30 am on Saturday.The bulletin also issued a yellow alert for central parts of the state, including Bokaro, Hazaribag, Ramgarh, and Ranchi districts, as they are likely to experience heavy rainfall on Friday."Heavy rainfall is likely to occur at isolated places over southern and adjoining central parts of the state, Gumla, Khunti, Seraikela Kharsawan, East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum, and Simdega on Friday.

Apart from this, thunderstorm and lightning activities accompanied by gusty wind speeding up to 30-40 kmph are also likely to occur at isolated places over the state on the same day," said Ranchi IMD deputy director Abhishek Anand.IMD, issuing an extended range forecast for the state on Thursday for the next two weeks, said that the state is likely to experience above-normal rainfall."The state is likely to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall from Friday to July 3.

While from July 4 to July 10, cumulatively normal rainfall over the state is expected for this week," the forecast stated.On Thursday, Ranchi recorded 3 mm of rainfall, Daltonganj 4 mm, and Bokaro 7.6 mm, Khunti recorded the highest maximum rainfall at 15 mm. Latehar recorded 7.5 mm, Hazaribag 3.5 mm, and Gumla recorded 2 mm of rainfall.Ranchi recorded 28.6 degrees Celsius on Thursday, Jamshedpur 32.2 degrees Celsius, Daltonganj 32.6 degrees Celsius, Bokaro 30.1 degrees Celsius, and Chaibasa recorded 32.4 degrees Celsius. At 33.9 degrees Celsius, Seraikela recorded the highest maximum temperature on Thursday.