IMD Weather Alert Today: Heavy Rains, Thunderstorms and Poor AQI Hit Several States
K N Mishra
29/Oct/2026
What's covered under the Article
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IMD warns of heavy rainfall across Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal and other regions on October 29, with isolated areas facing intense showers.
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Delhi receives morning rain under a yellow alert for thunderstorms, lightning and strong winds, while its AQI rises to 229 in the poor category.
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Cyclone Arnab weakens after landfall near Andhra Pradesh, while rainfall warnings continue across eastern and central India and haze affects parts of Mumbai.
India's weather conditions on October 29, 2026, are marked by rainfall warnings, thunderstorms, lightning, strong surface winds and continuing air pollution in several cities. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued weather alerts for multiple states and Union Territories following the landfall of Severe Cyclonic Storm Arnab near Andhra Pradesh on October 28. While the cyclone is expected to weaken gradually, its associated weather system continues to influence rainfall forecasts across eastern, central and northern parts of the country. Delhi has also experienced a change in weather, with parts of the national capital receiving rain on Thursday morning. The IMD has issued a yellow alert for light rainfall, thunderstorms, lightning and strong surface winds. At the same time, air pollution remains a concern, with Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded in the poor category. Several neighbouring cities in the National Capital Region have also reported elevated pollution levels. The latest weather forecast highlights the need for residents to monitor local warnings, particularly in areas expected to receive heavy or very heavy rainfall. States such as Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh feature in the IMD's rainfall outlook. Some regions are likely to experience heavy rainfall at isolated places, while the forecast for certain areas includes very heavy or extremely heavy rainfall during the wider period surrounding October 29. Parts of Delhi received rainfall on the morning of Thursday, October 29, as changing weather conditions affected the national capital. The IMD has issued a yellow alert for light rain, thunderstorms, lightning and strong surface winds during the day. According to the department's forecast, Delhi is likely to experience a generally cloudy sky. Very light to light rainfall, with moderate rain in some areas, is expected during the morning and forenoon. These conditions may be accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning and strong surface winds reaching speeds of 30–40 kmph. Another spell of very light to light rain, with moderate rainfall in some locations, is forecast for the afternoon and evening. Thunderstorms and lightning may accompany these showers. The changing weather could affect routine activities, road travel and outdoor plans. Residents should remain attentive to local weather updates, especially during periods of lightning and strong winds. A yellow alert indicates that people should stay informed and take appropriate precautions according to the expected conditions. The forecast also highlights the possibility of more than one spell of rain during the day. Therefore, weather conditions may vary between the morning, afternoon and evening. The timing and intensity of rainfall may differ across localities, so the overall city forecast should not be treated as a guarantee that every neighbourhood will receive the same amount of rain. Severe Cyclonic Storm Arnab made landfall near Andhra Pradesh on October 28, bringing heavy rainfall warnings for several regions. According to the IMD, the landfall process had been completed by 8 am IST on October 28, with the central region of the cyclone moving completely over land. Following landfall, the system is expected to move in a north-northwestward direction during the next 48 hours and gradually lose strength. The IMD's Wednesday weather bulletin indicated that the cyclone would weaken into a cyclonic storm within six hours and then into a deep depression during the subsequent six hours. Although the system is forecast to weaken, the associated weather conditions remain important for several states. Rainfall warnings continue for parts of eastern and central India, including areas of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh. The weakening of a cyclone does not automatically mean that all weather risks have ended. Rainfall can continue after landfall as the system moves inland and weakens. The intensity and distribution of rain may also differ between coastal and inland locations. Residents in areas covered by rainfall warnings should therefore continue to follow official forecasts and local advisories. The IMD's state- and region-specific predictions provide a clearer picture of where heavy showers are expected and how long the weather system may continue to influence conditions. Andhra Pradesh is among the states affected by the weather system associated with Cyclone Arnab. The IMD forecast light to moderate rainfall at most places across coastal Andhra Pradesh, with heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places and extremely heavy rainfall at isolated locations on October 28. The department also warned of heavy rainfall at isolated places over north coastal Andhra Pradesh on October 29. The forecast distinguishes between the broader rainfall expected across the region and the more intense showers that may occur in specific locations. Heavy rainfall at isolated places means that the risk is concentrated in certain areas rather than necessarily affecting the entire state uniformly. The impact of rainfall can vary depending on local conditions, the duration of the showers and the movement of the weather system. People in areas covered by the warning should stay updated on official forecasts and consider the possibility of disruptions to outdoor activities and travel. As Cyclone Arnab weakens and moves inland, monitoring the latest weather bulletins remains important. The broader forecast indicates that the system's effects extend beyond the immediate landfall area, with several neighbouring states also facing rainfall warnings. Odisha is another state facing rainfall-related concerns following the cyclone's landfall. The IMD had forecast light to moderate rainfall at most places across the state on October 28, with heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places and extremely heavy rainfall at isolated locations over south Odisha. Heavy to very heavy rainfall was also likely at isolated places in north Odisha on that date. For October 29, the department forecast heavy rainfall at isolated places over interior Odisha. The outlook suggests that rainfall conditions may vary across the state. The earlier forecast identified south and north Odisha among the areas at risk of more intense rainfall on October 28, while the October 29 warning specifically highlights isolated locations in interior Odisha. Residents should not assume that the weakening of Cyclone Arnab means the rainfall risk has disappeared. The weather system may continue to produce rain as it moves inland, and the intensity of showers can differ from district to district. People planning journeys or outdoor activities in the affected areas should keep track of local updates. The IMD's forecast is particularly relevant for locations where heavy rainfall is expected, as conditions may change during the passage of the weather system. Telangana was also included in the IMD's rainfall forecast associated with Cyclone Arnab. The department predicted light to moderate rainfall at most places, with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated locations over eastern parts of the state on October 28. The warning indicates that rainfall was expected to be widespread at a light to moderate level, while more intense showers could affect isolated areas in eastern Telangana. The available forecast specifically identifies October 28 for this warning. It does not provide a separate detailed rainfall prediction for Telangana on October 29 in the reported information. Residents should therefore rely on the latest official updates for current conditions and any changes to the forecast. The wider weather situation across eastern and central India remains relevant because the cyclone's movement and weakening may influence rainfall in neighbouring regions as well. Chhattisgarh was included in the IMD's forecast for intense rainfall associated with the cyclone. The department predicted light to moderate rainfall at most places, with heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places and extremely heavy rainfall at isolated locations over south Chhattisgarh on October 28. For October 29, the forecast indicated heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places over north Chhattisgarh. The regional difference is important. South Chhattisgarh was highlighted in the earlier forecast for October 28, while north Chhattisgarh was identified for heavy to very heavy rainfall on October 29. These warnings do not mean that all locations in the state will necessarily experience the same intensity of rainfall. Instead, they indicate that certain areas could receive substantially heavier showers than others. Residents in the affected regions should follow official updates and remain alert to changing weather conditions. The forecast also places Chhattisgarh among the central Indian states being influenced by the broader weather system. Jharkhand is also included in the IMD's rainfall outlook. The department forecast light to moderate rainfall at many places, with heavy rainfall at isolated places on October 28. For October 29, heavy to very heavy rainfall was forecast at isolated places. The warning suggests that certain locations may receive intense showers even if rainfall is not equally heavy across the entire state. Such differences are common in regional weather forecasts, where the expected intensity and distribution of rain can vary between districts. Residents should monitor local weather updates, particularly if they live in areas covered by the heavy rainfall warning. The forecast remains relevant for people planning road journeys, outdoor work or other activities that may be affected by changing weather conditions. Jharkhand's inclusion in the alert also reflects the wider reach of the weather system after Cyclone Arnab made landfall near Andhra Pradesh and began weakening. Bihar is among the states for which the IMD forecast significant rainfall on October 29 and October 30. The department predicted light to moderate rainfall at many places, with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places on both days. The forecast means that while many areas may receive light to moderate showers, selected locations could experience substantially heavier rainfall. The intensity may vary between districts, so the state-wide forecast should be read alongside local updates. Residents should remain alert to the possibility of heavy showers and check the latest official weather bulletins before planning outdoor activities or travel. The two-day warning indicates that rainfall concerns are not limited to October 29 and may continue into October 30 in isolated areas. Bihar's rainfall forecast forms part of the broader weather pattern affecting eastern India after Cyclone Arnab's landfall. The system is expected to weaken gradually, but its influence on rainfall conditions may continue as it moves north-northwestward. West Bengal has separate rainfall forecasts for Gangetic West Bengal and Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, along with Sikkim. For Gangetic West Bengal, the IMD forecast light to moderate rainfall at many places, with heavy rainfall at isolated places over coastal districts on October 28 and October 29. The warning indicates that coastal areas could experience heavier showers even as rainfall intensity varies elsewhere. For Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim, light to moderate rainfall at many places and heavy rainfall at isolated places were forecast for October 29 and October 30. These regional forecasts show that rainfall conditions may continue across different parts of West Bengal over multiple days. Coastal districts in Gangetic West Bengal feature in the October 29 warning, while the northern region and Sikkim are included in the forecast covering October 29 and 30. Residents should keep checking local updates for the latest information. The possibility of heavy rainfall at isolated places means that weather conditions may differ considerably between locations, even within the same broad region. The forecast also highlights the wider geographical spread of rainfall alerts linked to the weather system that followed Cyclone Arnab's landfall. East Uttar Pradesh is included in the IMD's heavy rainfall forecast for October 29. The department predicted light to moderate rainfall at most places, with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places on Thursday. The warning extends into the following days. For October 30, heavy to very heavy rainfall was forecast at isolated places over northeast Uttar Pradesh. For October 31, heavy rainfall was forecast at isolated places over east Uttar Pradesh. The three-day outlook suggests that different parts of eastern Uttar Pradesh may experience intense rainfall at different times. East Uttar Pradesh is highlighted for October 29 and October 31, while northeast Uttar Pradesh is specifically mentioned for October 30. Residents should follow district-level updates rather than assuming that all parts of Uttar Pradesh will experience identical conditions. The forecast identifies eastern and northeastern areas for particular attention during this period. People planning travel or outdoor activities should keep weather conditions in mind and monitor official bulletins for any updated warnings. The expected intensity and timing of rainfall may differ by location. The IMD has also forecast heavy rainfall for parts of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. For east Madhya Pradesh, light to moderate rainfall at most places, with heavy rainfall at isolated places, was forecast on October 28 and October 30. The department also predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places on October 29. This means that the rainfall warning for east Madhya Pradesh covers multiple dates, with a stronger category of rainfall forecast for isolated places on October 29. In Vidarbha, the IMD forecast light to moderate rainfall at most places, with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places on October 28. For October 29, heavy rainfall was forecast at isolated places over eastern Vidarbha. The forecasts underline the importance of checking the date and subregion associated with each alert. A warning for one part of a state does not necessarily apply equally to every district, and the expected intensity may change from one day to another. Residents in the identified areas should follow official updates as the weather system continues to weaken and move inland. Alongside the rainfall alerts, air pollution remains a major concern in Delhi and parts of the National Capital Region. According to the Central Pollution Control Board's (CPCB) All India AQI portal, Delhi's city-level Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 229 on Thursday morning. The reading placed Delhi's air quality in the poor category. It was slightly higher than Wednesday's recorded AQI of 228, indicating that pollution levels had increased marginally. Neighbouring cities also reported elevated AQI readings. Noida recorded 235, while Manesar registered 228 and Gurugram recorded 227. Greater Noida reported an AQI of 209. These cities were also in the poor category according to the reported CPCB readings. Ghaziabad recorded an AQI of 171, while Faridabad reported 131. Both cities remained in the moderate category. The figures show that pollution levels were not uniform across the region. Noida, Manesar, Gurugram and Greater Noida were classified as poor, whereas Ghaziabad and Faridabad were in the moderate category. Delhi's changing weather and its pollution readings are two separate aspects of the day's conditions. Rainfall and thunderstorms may affect local weather, but the reported AQI figures still indicate a pollution concern across the capital and several neighbouring cities. Residents should consult current official air-quality updates for their locality and consider the reported category when making decisions about outdoor activities. Parts of Mumbai in Maharashtra experienced hazy conditions on Thursday, with a layer of smog reducing visibility. Visuals from Bandra Reclamation showed haze covering the skyline. The reported conditions highlight a separate air-quality concern in the financial capital. Unlike Delhi, where a city-level AQI figure was provided in the report, the Mumbai update focused on visible haze and smog. The available information does not provide a specific AQI value for Mumbai. Therefore, the visual report should not be treated as a substitute for an official numerical air-quality reading. Residents who notice hazy conditions can check the latest official pollution information for their area. Air quality may vary between neighbourhoods, and a visual description of conditions in one location does not necessarily represent the entire city. The CPCB dataset cited in the report included valid readings for 264 cities. Among these, Bhiwadi in Rajasthan recorded the highest AQI at 296. Pithampur in Madhya Pradesh followed with an AQI of 291, while Panchgaon in Haryana recorded 275. Kaithal and Ballabgarh, both in Haryana, registered AQI readings of 265 and 263, respectively. These readings show that several cities outside Delhi were also reporting elevated pollution levels. Bhiwadi's reading of 296 was the highest among the cities listed in the reported dataset, while Pithampur and Panchgaon also recorded high values. At the other end of the scale, Aizawl in Mizoram recorded an AQI of 21, placing it in the good category. Suakati in Odisha followed with an AQI of 23, while Nayagarh in Odisha registered 24. Raipur in Chhattisgarh and Baripada in Odisha both recorded AQI readings of 25. The contrast between these cities illustrates how air quality can vary significantly across India. Some locations reported good air quality, while others recorded substantially higher pollution levels. These figures refer to the CPCB readings cited in the report and should be interpreted in the context of the dataset available at the time. AQI readings can change, so residents should check the latest official data for their city before drawing conclusions about current conditions. The weather situation on October 29 combines rainfall warnings associated with Cyclone Arnab, a yellow alert for Delhi, and pollution concerns in several urban areas. Delhi residents should prepare for a cloudy day with possible rain spells, thunderstorms, lightning and strong surface winds of 30–40 kmph. The yellow alert calls for attention to changing conditions during the morning, afternoon and evening. In Andhra Pradesh, the latest forecast identifies isolated heavy rainfall in north coastal areas on October 29. Odisha faces a warning for heavy rainfall at isolated places in interior areas. Bihar is forecast to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places on October 29 and 30. Jharkhand also faces a warning for heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places on October 29. Gangetic West Bengal has a forecast for heavy rainfall at isolated places in coastal districts on October 29, while Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim are covered by the warning for October 29 and 30. East Uttar Pradesh is expected to experience heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places on October 29. The warning also covers northeast Uttar Pradesh on October 30 and east Uttar Pradesh on October 31. East Madhya Pradesh and eastern Vidarbha are included in rainfall alerts for October 29. The IMD's warnings are location-specific, so residents should check the latest forecast relevant to their district. A statewide alert does not mean that every area will receive the same rainfall intensity. Air pollution is another factor to consider. Delhi's AQI of 229, Noida's 235 and Greater Noida's 209 were all in the poor category in the reported readings. Mumbai also experienced hazy conditions, while several other Indian cities recorded elevated AQI values. The IMD weather forecast for October 29, 2026, highlights a combination of rain, thunderstorms, lightning, strong winds and pollution concerns across India. Delhi has received morning showers and remains under a yellow alert, while Cyclone Arnab is expected to weaken gradually after making landfall near Andhra Pradesh. Despite the cyclone's weakening, heavy rainfall warnings remain in place for several regions. Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, east Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha and east Uttar Pradesh feature in the forecast for different dates and rainfall intensities. Delhi's air quality also remains a concern, with the AQI recorded at 229 in the poor category. Several neighbouring cities reported similar or higher readings, while Mumbai experienced haze and smog. Across the wider CPCB dataset, Bhiwadi recorded the highest reported AQI among the listed cities, while Aizawl recorded the lowest. For residents, the key message is to follow the latest local weather and air-quality updates. Rainfall intensity can vary from one district to another, and the weakening of Cyclone Arnab does not mean that all associated weather risks have ended. Monitoring official forecasts can help people plan travel and outdoor activities while staying aware of changing weather and pollution conditions.Delhi weather today: Yellow alert for rain, thunderstorms and lightning
Cyclone Arnab update: System expected to weaken after landfall
Andhra Pradesh weather: Heavy rain warning continues for coastal areas
Odisha weather today: Heavy rainfall forecast for interior districts
Telangana weather: Heavy to very heavy rainfall forecast in eastern areas
Chhattisgarh weather: Heavy rainfall warning for northern districts
Jharkhand weather: Heavy rainfall likely at isolated places
Bihar weather today: Heavy to very heavy rainfall expected
West Bengal weather: Rain forecast for coastal districts and northern areas
East Uttar Pradesh weather: Heavy rainfall warning on October 29
East Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha: Rainfall alerts continue
Delhi air pollution: AQI reaches 229 in the poor category
Mumbai weather: Hazy conditions and smog reduce visibility
Air quality across India: Bhiwadi records the highest reported AQI
What residents should know about today's weather alerts
Conclusion: IMD forecast points to a wet day in several regions
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