Weather Shift: Cyclone Arnab Cools North India, Rain Alerts Issued
Cyclone Arnab's remnants have triggered a notable change in weather across north India. Rain, thunderstorms and strong winds on Thursday caused temperatures to fall sharply in Delhi-NCR, Haryana, Punjab and beyond. Delhi logged its coldest October day in four years, and Karnal's maximum temperature sank 9 degrees below the seasonal norm.
The India Meteorological Department says the weather will remain unsettled for at least two more days, with alerts in place for several states.
What Happened in Delhi
On October 29, Delhi woke to overcast skies, and rain fell in various localities over the day before. The Safdarjung station's maximum temperature was 25.4 degrees Celsius, around 5.6 degrees lower than normal. This was the lowest October high recorded in the city in four years.
Forecasts call for more thunderstorms and rain in Delhi-NCR over the next two days. Red and orange alerts have been issued for specific zones based on how severe the weather is expected to be. The rain has eased the heat, but residents are also feeling the cooler air.
Temperature Drops Across Haryana and Punjab
Haryana's daytime temperatures fell quickly. Karnal topped out at 20.6 degrees Celsius, Ambala at 23.8 degrees (6 degrees below normal), Narnaul at 25.5 degrees, Rohtak at 24.6 degrees and Bhiwani at 28 degrees Celsius.
In Punjab, Patiala reached 27.4 degrees, which is 3 degrees under normal. Other cities were warmer: Ludhiana 30.4 degrees, Amritsar 30.6, Pathankot 29, Bathinda 31 and Faridkot 34.9 degrees Celsius.
Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan Brace for Hail and Storms
Lucknow's weather office expects the state's maximum temperature to drop by 5 to 8 degrees Celsius on October 30 and 31. Rain, gusty winds and thunderstorms are likely in Lucknow, Unnao, Raebareli, Sultanpur and Amethi, while hail may hit western Uttar Pradesh on Friday. Conditions are expected to improve gradually afterward, though the cold will be more noticeable.
In Rajasthan, a fresh western disturbance and a nearby cyclonic circulation are influencing the weather. Eastern parts of the state may get rain and strong winds. Northern sections of the Jaipur and Bharatpur divisions could see moderate to heavy rain with hail in some places. Maximum temperatures may decline by 3 to 5 degrees over the next 24 hours.
Hills Get Lightning Alerts as Mercury Dips
Light rain was recorded in parts of Himachal Pradesh, along with lightning in Shimla, Jubbarhatti, Sundernagar, Kangra, Murari Devi and Palampur. A yellow alert for lightning has been issued for Kangra, Mandi, Shimla and Sirmaur districts for Friday. Overnight, Kukumseri in Lahaul-Spiti fell to minus 1.2 degrees Celsius.
Rain in Jharkhand and Bengal, Odisha Floods
Jharkhand saw heavy rain, with Gudabanda in East Singhbhum recording 71.4 millimetres, Mazhari in West Singhbhum 64 millimetres, Chaibasa 60 millimetres and Ranchi 26.2 millimetres. Schools in several districts, including Ranchi and Simdega, are closed on October 28 and 29. Parts of West Bengal also experienced rain and strong winds.
The cyclone made landfall near the Andhra Pradesh coast and Yanam on Wednesday before weakening into a deep depression. In Odisha, floods have affected about 300 villages in Ganjam district, according to Chief Secretary Anu Garg. The Indian Coast Guard is airlifting stranded people, and 79 disaster response teams have been deployed in two districts. The state is coordinating with the Union Home Ministry on evacuations.
Although the cyclone has weakened, rain, strong winds and flooding continue to disrupt life across several states. The weather department urges residents to stay alert and follow instructions from local authorities.