Several districts in Uttar Pradesh have been placed on alert for unseasonal rainfall, thunderstorms and strong winds as Cyclone Arnab moves towards Andhra Pradesh. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued orange and yellow alerts for parts of the state, with adverse weather conditions expected between October 28 and 30.
According to the forecast, eastern and central Uttar Pradesh are likely to experience widespread rainfall, accompanied by lightning and gusty winds. Lucknow is also expected to witness thunderstorms and unsettled weather during this period.
On October 28, thunderstorms and gusty winds are likely in districts including Chitrakoot, Prayagraj, Sonbhadra, Mirzapur, Chandauli, Varanasi, Sant Ravidas Nagar, Ghazipur and Ballia.
For October 29, an orange alert has been issued for heavy to very heavy rainfall in 10 districts: Prayagraj, Pratapgarh, Chitrakoot, Kaushambi, Mirzapur, Sonbhadra, Chandauli, Varanasi, Sant Ravidas Nagar and Jaunpur.
On October 30, heavy rainfall is forecast in Deoria, Gorakhpur, Sant Kabir Nagar, Basti, Kushinagar, Maharajganj, Siddharthnagar and Balrampur. Thunderstorms and lightning accompanied by gusty winds of 40–50 kmph are also likely in Lucknow, Barabanki and surrounding areas.
A yellow alert has also been issued for heavy rainfall in Azamgarh, Mau, Ballia, Gonda, Shravasti, Bahraich, Lakhimpur Kheri, Sitapur, Barabanki, Ayodhya and Ambedkar Nagar.
Atul Kumar Singh, a senior scientist at the Regional Meteorological Centre in Lucknow, said the cyclone’s influence could bring unseasonal rain and strong winds from October 28. Widespread rainfall, thunderstorms and lightning are anticipated across eastern and central Uttar Pradesh on October 29 and 30, potentially lowering maximum temperatures by 5–8°C.
Government Issues Precautionary Guidelines
The Uttar Pradesh relief commissioner’s office has issued precautionary guidelines for residents and farmers and directed authorities to strengthen relief and rescue preparations.
Residents have been advised to:
- Take shelter in sturdy buildings during storms.
- Stay away from trees, electricity poles and weak structures.
- Avoid unnecessary travel during adverse weather.
- Keep away from open fields and water bodies during lightning.
Farmers have been urged to protect their crops and agricultural produce and move livestock to safe locations. Residents have also been advised to monitor official weather bulletins and alerts through the Sachet app.
Authorities have urged the public to follow local administration advisories as the state prepares for possible disruptions caused by the approaching cyclone.
