Another cyclone coming? November begins with rain, dry spells on Sunday

Rainfall is expected to continue across parts of eastern, central and southern India on Sunday, November 1, as a developing weather system over the Bay of Bengal strengthens and moves closer to the eastern coast, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) bulletin issued on Saturday, October 31.The weather department has forecast heavy rainfall in Odisha, coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam.Several other parts of the country could see thunderstorms and gusty winds, while much of northwestern India is likely to remain dry. Vehicles splash through a waterlogged road as rain lashes parts of a city. (Photo: PTI) HEAVY RAIN TO HIT EAST COASTOdisha and coastal Andhra Pradesh, including Yanam, are likely to receive heavy rainfall on Sunday as the well-marked low-pressure area over the southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining Andaman and Nicobar Islands moves west-northwestwards. The system is expected to intensify further, bringing increased rainfall activity along parts of the east coast. The IMD has also forecast thunderstorms and gusty winds in parts of central and southern India.Rainfall is likely to continue over parts of southern India in the coming days. Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal are expected to receive heavy rainfall during the first half of next week, while Kerala and Mahe could also see heavy showers. A satellite image shows the weather systems over the Indian subcontinent. (Photo: IMD) ANOTHER STORM BREWS AFTER CYCLONE ARNABThe developing system comes just days after Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Arnab crossed the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts on October 28, bringing powerful winds and heavy rainfall.Arnab has since weakened into a low-pressure area over parts of central India. Its remnants are now separate from the new system brewing over the southeast Bay of Bengal.The fresh system was initially a low-pressure area over the South Andaman Sea and adjoining regions, and strengthened into a well-marked low-pressure area by Saturday morning.The IMD has forecast that it could intensify into a depression and subsequently a cyclonic storm, moving towards the west-central Bay of Bengal near the Andhra Pradesh coast by the evening of November 2.However, its exact track and intensity will depend on how the system develops. A satellite image shows the new system brewing in the Bay of Bengal. (Photo: IMD) DAYS TO TURN DRY IN NORTHIn contrast, Delhi, Haryana, Chandigarh and Punjab are expected to largely remain dry on November 1.Temperatures in parts of north India are likely to stay relatively stable, with no major widespread rainfall activity forecast for the day.The main weather activity is therefore expected to remain concentrated over eastern and southern India as the new Bay of Bengal system continues to strengthen.- Ends