Ranchi: The Met office on Tuesday issued a heavy rainfall alert for Ranchi and adjoining parts of the state this weekend. If such conditions continue over the next few days, Jharkhand’s rainfall deficit may reduce further, creating favourable conditions for kharif crop cultivation, officials said.In its Tuesday bulletin, the IMD said heavy rain is likely at isolated places over southern and central parts — Ranchi, Khunti, Gumla and Lohardaga — and northwestern parts, including Latehar, Palamu and Garhwa, on Friday. It also predicted thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds of 30-40 kmph at isolated places across the state.For Saturday, it predicted heavy rain at isolated places over southern and central Jharkhand, including Ranchi, Khunti, Gumla, Lohardaga, Ramgarh and Bokaro, along with thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds of 30-40 kmph at isolated places.For Wednesday and Thursday, the Met office predicted thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds of 30-40 kmph at isolated places across the state. A yellow alert has been issued for all four days. The heavy rainfall alert, however, does not cover other parts of the state.Baburaj PP, director of Ranchi Met office, said heavy rain has been predicted as the monsoon trough at mean sea level now passes through Sriganganagar, Rohtak, Hamirpur, Sidhi, Ranchi and Digha and extends southeastwards towards northwest Bay of Bengal up to 1.5 km above mean sea level. An upper air cyclonic circulation also lies over north Chhattisgarh and neighbourhood, extending up to 7.6 km above mean sea level and tilting southwards with height.Till Tuesday, IMD data showed Jharkhand had a rainfall deficit of 30%. From June 1 till Tuesday, the state has received 282.2 mm of rain against a normal of 403.4 mm.