Cyclone Arnab weakens, rain threat spreads: Delhi-NCR on hailstorm alert

India is set for another day of unsettled weather on Thursday, October 29, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall across several states, thunderstorms and possible hailstorms in parts of north India.The weather is expected to remain particularly active across eastern and central India, even as the remnants of Cyclone Arnab move inland and gradually weaken. An agricultural land is seen covered in hailstones after a hailstorm. (Photo: PTI) The IMD's weather bulletin, issued on Wednesday, October 28, said isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely in Bihar, Chhattisgarh, east Madhya Pradesh, east Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and Odisha on Thursday.Heavy rain is also expected at isolated places in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, coastal Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Sikkim. THUNDERSTORMS AND HAIL EXPECTED ACROSS DELHI-NCRDelhi, Haryana, Chandigarh and Punjab could witness thunderstorms accompanied by hailstorms at isolated places on Thursday. A satellite image shows the weather systems over the Indian subcontinent. (Photo: IMD) The IMD has also forecast thundersqualls, with wind speeds of 50-60 kmph, across Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Punjab and Jharkhand. East Rajasthan could also experience isolated hailstorm activity, while thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds are likely in parts of Uttar Pradesh, east Rajasthan, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, east Madhya Pradesh, coastal Andhra Pradesh and several other regions.The weather system is expected to keep conditions unsettled across the northern plains, with the IMD forecasting fairly widespread to widespread rainfall over east Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi on October 29 and 30. Vehicles ply on a wet road during rain. (Photo: PTI) CYCLONE ARNAB WEAKENS AFTER ANDHRA ARRIVALThe significant weather development comes after very severe cyclonic storm Arnab crossed the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam during the early hours of Wednesday.According to the IMD, the landfall process was completed by 8:30 am on October 28, with the storm moving completely over land. A satellite image shows Cyclone Arnab over the Indian subcontinent. (Photo: IMD) At the time, the system was expected to move north-northwestwards and weaken gradually, first into a cyclonic storm and then into a deep depression.Despite weakening, the system's influence is expected to sustain rainfall across parts of the region.Coastal Andhra Pradesh is likely to receive heavy rain at isolated places on Thursday, alongside strong winds.The IMD has also forecast squally winds along the West Bengal coast and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal on October 29.The unsettled conditions come as the northeast monsoon season gets underway over southern India, while the retreating weather systems and associated atmospheric disturbances continue to influence rainfall across several parts of the country.- Ends