Daytime temperatures dropped sharply across northern India on Thursday as widespread cloud cover and rainfall associated with the weakening Cyclone Arnab brought unusually cool conditions to several states, with Delhi recording its coldest October day in four years.
The maximum temperature at Safdarjung, Delhi's base weather station, settled at 25.4 degrees Celsius, 5.6 degrees below normal. It was the lowest maximum temperature recorded in the capital during October since October 8, 2022, when the mercury had settled at 23.4 degrees Celsius.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued red and orange alerts for thunderstorms across parts of Delhi-NCR, Uttar Pradesh and other northern states over the next two days, warning of gusty winds, lightning and possible hailstorms.
The weather changes came as Cyclone Arnab, which made landfall along the Andhra Pradesh-Yanam coast on Wednesday, weakened while moving inland. Heavy rainfall associated with the system affected West Bengal, Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh, while flooding and landslides disrupted normal life in parts of Odisha.
๐๐ฒ๐น๐ต๐ถ, ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฎ ๐๐ฒ๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฝ ๐ฑ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ ๐ถ๐ป ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฐ๐๐ฟ๐
Dark clouds covered Delhi from Thursday morning, although the capital recorded only trace rainfall during the preceding 24 hours. The persistent cloud cover contributed to a substantial decline in daytime temperatures, bringing conditions considerably cooler than those normally experienced in late October.
Neighbouring Haryana witnessed an even sharper fall in temperatures, with Karnal recording a maximum of 20.6 degrees Celsius, nine degrees below normal. Ambala registered 23.8 degrees Celsius, six degrees below average.
Rohtak recorded a maximum of 24.6 degrees Celsius, while Narnaul and Bhiwani registered 25.5 degrees and 28 degrees Celsius, respectively. Temperatures at these locations remained several degrees below their seasonal averages.
In Punjab, Patiala recorded a maximum of 27.4 degrees Celsius, three degrees below normal. Ludhiana registered 30.4 degrees Celsius, Amritsar 30.6 degrees, Pathankot 29 degrees, Bathinda 31 degrees and Faridkot 34.9 degrees Celsius.
๐จ๐ฃ ๐ฏ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ต๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐, ๐ต๐ฎ๐ถ๐น
The meteorological office in Lucknow forecast a decline of around five to eight degrees Celsius in maximum temperatures across Uttar Pradesh on October 29 and 30.
Thunderstorms accompanied by gusty winds were predicted in several districts, including Lucknow, Unnao, Rae Bareli, Sultanpur and Amethi. Parts of western Uttar Pradesh could also experience hailstorms on Friday.
The weather department said rainfall activity was expected to decrease after the current spell, although residents were advised to remain cautious during thunderstorms.
In Rajasthan, a fresh western disturbance brought changing weather conditions to several areas. An induced circulation over Punjab and adjoining regions was expected to trigger rainfall and strong winds across parts of eastern Rajasthan.
Moderate to heavy rainfall, accompanied by isolated hailstorms, was forecast for northern parts of Jaipur and Bharatpur divisions. Maximum temperatures across the affected areas were expected to decline by three to five degrees Celsius over the next 24 hours.
๐๐ถ๐บ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฎ๐น ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ ๐๐๐ฏ-๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ผ ๐๐ฒ๐บ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ
Light rainfall occurred at a few places in Himachal Pradesh, while Shimla, Jubberhatti, Sundernagar, Kangra, Murari Devi and Palampur experienced thunderstorms and lightning.
The local meteorological centre issued a yellow warning for isolated thunderstorms and lightning in Kangra, Mandi, Shimla and Sirmaur districts on Friday.
Kukumseri in the tribal Lahaul and Spiti district emerged as the coldest location in the state during the night, recording a minimum temperature of minus 1.2 degrees Celsius.
๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป ๐น๐ฎ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ป ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐
In Jharkhand, widespread rainfall affected several districts as the weakening cyclonic system moved inland.
Gudabanda in East Singhbhum district recorded 71.4 mm of rainfall since Wednesday evening, the highest reported in the state during the period. Manjhari in West Singhbhum received 64 mm, while Chaibasa registered 60 mm and Ranchi recorded 26.2 mm.
Authorities in Ranchi, West Singhbhum, East Singhbhum and Simdega districts ordered schools to remain closed on October 28 and 29 as a precautionary measure.
Rain and squally winds also lashed parts of West Bengal as the weather system remained active over south Chhattisgarh and adjoining south Odisha.
According to the IMD, the system had weakened into a depression over south Chhattisgarh and adjoining south Odisha on Thursday morning. It was expected to move northwards and weaken further into a well-marked low-pressure area.
๐ข๐ฑ๐ถ๐๐ต๐ฎ ๐ณ๐น๐ผ๐ผ๐ฑ๐ ๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ฌ ๐๐ถ๐น๐น๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ๐ ๐บ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฑ
Odisha remained among the worst-affected states, with heavy rainfall triggering flooding and landslides, particularly in Ganjam district.
The Indian Coast Guard began airlifting stranded residents from flood- and landslide-hit areas as the state government intensified rescue and relief operations.
Chief Secretary Anu Garg said approximately 300 villages in Ganjam district had been affected by flooding, with around 70 villages remaining marooned.
The state government deployed 79 teams from different disaster response agencies across two affected districts to conduct rescue operations and assist stranded residents.
Garg said the administration was coordinating with the Union Home Ministry to facilitate air evacuations in areas where flooding had disrupted access.
Authorities continued monitoring rainfall, river levels and weather conditions as the weakened cyclonic system moved inland, while rescue operations remained underway in the affected districts.