IMD Warns of Heavy Rain, Thunderstorms Across East, Northeast and Delhi Tomorrow

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast fairly widespread to widespread rainfall over most parts of east and adjoining central India on October 30, along with northeast India, peninsular India and the east coast, as a depression and a western disturbance continue to influence weather across large parts of the country.

In Delhi, cloudy weather and showers are expected to continue through the first half of the day, particularly over west and north Delhi. The IMD has warned of enhanced convective activity over the next 24 hours, with the possibility of a spell of very light rain accompanied by thunder and lightning, and strong surface winds reaching 30 to 40 kmph at many places from morning to forenoon. Maximum and minimum temperatures in the capital are likely to remain between 27 and 29 degrees Celsius and 16 and 18 degrees Celsius respectively.

Thunderstorms accompanied by hailstorms are likely at isolated places over Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi and Punjab. Thundersqualls accompanied by strong winds are also expected over these areas, the department said in a press release.

Exceptionally heavy rainfall has already been recorded in Odisha, as well as in coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam. The trend is expected to continue, with isolated extremely heavy rainfall very likely over east Chhattisgarh and north Odisha on Thursday and over north Bihar on Friday, October 30. Jharkhand may witness thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds.

The current wet spell is being driven by a depression, which is a remnant of Cyclone Arnab, together with a western disturbance, according to the IMD. Another western disturbance is likely to affect northwest India during the week, which could extend the unsettled weather.

Separately, the IMD said a low pressure area has formed over the south Andaman Sea and its neighbourhood, under the influence of an upper air cyclonic circulation that lay over the region a day earlier. This system is very likely to move west-northwestwards and concentrate into a depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal and the adjoining areas of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the Andaman Sea around October 31. It is thereafter likely to intensify further and continue moving west-northwestwards towards the Andhra Pradesh coast over the following two days.

Weather experts note that heavy rain in October is not unusual for the east coast, which often sees rain during the retreating monsoon and the early phase of the northeast monsoon. Fishing communities and those living in low-lying areas of coastal Odisha and Andhra Pradesh are routinely advised to remain alert when a depression forms over the Bay of Bengal.

Residents in the affected states are advised to check IMD updates and follow instructions issued by local administrations. People in areas expecting thunderstorms and lightning are advised to take shelter indoors, avoid standing under trees or open structures, and stay away from waterlogged roads and underpasses. Farmers in north Bihar and east Chhattisgarh, where extremely heavy rain is likely, may need to take precautions to protect standing crops.

The IMD issues district-level warnings and nowcasts through its website and social media channels, and these are updated through the day as weather systems evolve. Citizens can also consult the department's rainfall and lightning alerts for their specific district before planning travel.