Patna: Bihar’s summers once followed a familiar script. April and May brought oppressive heat, dry winds and the occasional pre-monsoon shower that offered temporary relief before the monsoon’s arrival in June. But this year, the skies over Patna and large parts of the state have behaved differently — violently, unpredictably and with a force that has unsettled both residents and weather experts.Thunderstorms, lightning strikes, hailstorms and unusually intense rainfall have repeatedly disrupted life across Bihar in recent weeks. Trees have been uprooted, electricity poles brought down and roads flooded. On May 8, one such storm swept through Patna with alarming intensity, claiming lives and exposing how vulnerable the state remains to rapidly changing weather patterns.According to India Meteorological Department (IMD) data, Bihar has recorded nearly 168% more rainfall than normal till May 12 during the pre-monsoon season, which stretches from March to May. The figure alone reflects how dramatically weather behaviour has shifted.For meteorologists, the concern is not merely the volume of rain but the changing nature of storms themselves.Sanjay Kumar, an IMD meteorologist, said pre-monsoon thunderstorms are not unusual in Bihar, but the scale and severity witnessed this year are markedly different.“The thunderstorm on May 8 had the intensity of a sub-tropical cyclone. Wind speeds in Patna reached 135 km/hr, whereas normally these systems produce winds of around 60 to 70 km/hr,” Kumar said.The geography of these storms is changing too. Districts in northeastern Bihar such as Purnia, Kishanganj and Araria have historically experienced stronger thunderstorm activity because of their proximity to moisture-laden systems from the northeast. This year, however, southwestern districts have also experienced severe disturbances.Kumar attributed this to multiple cyclonic troughs moving through the region. “The impact is now being felt on a much larger scale by residents who are unaccustomed to such severity,” he said.Another unusual feature has been the persistence of easterly winds. Bihar’s summers are traditionally dominated by hot westerlies and the dreaded loo. But this season, moisture-bearing easterlies from the sea have remained active for prolonged periods.“These easterlies, combined with cyclonic circulations, are feeding more moisture into the atmosphere. The result is weather systems that are more tenacious and long-lasting than before,” Kumar said.The destruction caused by these storms is often less about rainfall and more about what accompanies it. C N Prabhu, joint director of the Bihar Mausam Sewa Kendra, said the deaths reported on May 8 were largely caused by lightning and strong winds that toppled trees and electric poles.“Strong winds move the clouds rapidly, increasing the intensity of rainfall,” Prabhu said.Yet the growing frequency of weather alerts has also highlighted another challenge — the gap between forecasting and public response. Warnings are issued, but they do not always translate into timely action on the ground.Prabhu said awareness among residents remains crucial. “Warnings given by weather departments are often not enough on their own, as residents must also take note of these alerts and act promptly to curb damage,” he said.The Bihar disaster management department has attempted to address this through early warning systems and localised preparedness measures. Principal secretary Santosh Kumar Mall said the department relies on impact-based forecasting and continuous coordination with the IMD to reduce losses caused by lightning and heavy rainfall.“Continuous coordination with the IMD ensures the dissemination of alerts via SMS, social media and radio. These systems target lightning and thunderstorms to protect life and property across Bihar,” Mall said.The department has also identified lightning-prone districts and hotspots for targeted interventions. Awareness drives encourage farmers and labourers to avoid open fields during storms, while village meetings and loudspeaker announcements are used to spread immediate shelter advisories in remote areas.Mall said preparedness measures also include stockpiling food grains, medicines and boats while activating emergency operation centres during periods of excess rainfall and sudden flooding.Still, the broader scientific debate increasingly points towards climate change and rapid urbanisation as underlying factors intensifying these events.Professor Pradhan Parth Sarthi, coordinator at the Centre for Climate Change and LiFE, said the Gangetic plains may be witnessing a rise in thunderstorm severity because of changing atmospheric conditions.“While these storms typically occur in the late afternoon and clear within an hour, there is a probability of climate change impacting the number and severity of thunderstorm activity over the Gangetic plains,” Sarthi said.He added that increasing aerosol particles and dust in the atmosphere contribute to the growth of towering cumulonimbus clouds — the dense vertical formations associated with thunderstorms, lightning and hail.“When dust particles increase, the vertical height of the thunder clouds also increases. This leads to increased intensity of thunderstorm activity,” Sarthi said.Urban expansion may be worsening the problem. Sarthi said concrete structures, shrinking green cover and urban heat islands create conditions where air retains more heat and moisture, strengthening thunderstorms after prolonged periods of humidity and high temperatures.
