Cyclone Arnab weakens to depression; Rajasthan braces for rain, hail on Oct 29
Synopsis
Cyclone Arnab may be fading, but Rajasthan isn't in the clear yet. A Western Disturbance over Punjab is keeping the weather volatile — with hailstorms, heavy rain, and a 3–5°C temperature plunge forecast for Jaipur and Bharatpur divisions on 29 October. The disruption could hit harvesting farmers hard before dry conditions return from 1 November.
Key Takeaways
Cyclone Arnab has weakened into a depression over southern Chhattisgarh and is expected to weaken further within 24 hours .
A fresh Western Disturbance over Punjab is triggering rain, thunderstorms, and strong winds ( 40–50 kmph ) across Bharatpur, Jaipur, Ajmer, Kota, and Udaipur divisions on 29 October .
Moderate to heavy rainfall and hailstorms are possible in northern parts of the Jaipur and Bharatpur divisions.
Maximum temperatures are forecast to fall by 3–5 degrees Celsius over the next 24 hours.
Western Rajasthan's Jodhpur and Bikaner divisions may see isolated light rain; border areas expected to stay largely dry.
Weather is likely to turn predominantly dry across most of Rajasthan from 1 November onwards.
Cyclonic storm Arnab has weakened into a depression over southern Chhattisgarh and is expected to weaken further over the next 24 hours, according to officials. However, a fresh Western Disturbance has triggered an induced cyclonic circulation over Punjab and adjoining areas, continuing to drive unsettled weather across parts of Rajasthan on 29 October.
Districts on Alert
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast thunderstorms, strong winds, and rainfall across several Rajasthan districts on Thursday. Parts of the Bharatpur, Jaipur, Ajmer, Kota, and Udaipur divisions are expected to see cloudy skies, gusty winds reaching 40–50 kmph, and light to moderate rainfall on 29 October.
Northern parts of the Jaipur and Bharatpur divisions face the possibility of moderate to heavy rainfall, with hailstorms likely in isolated areas — a combination that could disrupt agriculture and road connectivity in affected zones.
Temperature Drop Expected
Maximum temperatures are projected to fall by 3–5 degrees Celsius over the next 24 hours, according to the Meteorological Centre, Jaipur. This is expected to bring noticeable relief from the prevailing warmth across several regions of the state, marking a significant early-season shift ahead of the November cool-down.
What the Weather Holds on October 30 and 31
Light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and strong winds is likely to persist in parts of the Jaipur, Bharatpur, Udaipur, Kota, and Ajmer divisions of eastern Rajasthan on Friday, 30 October. Isolated areas of the Jodhpur and Bikaner divisions in western Rajasthan may also see cloudy skies and light rain with thunderstorms on Thursday and Friday, though most border areas are expected to remain largely dry.
The IMD has forecast light to moderate rainfall in some parts of eastern Rajasthan on 31 October as well. From 1 November onwards, weather conditions are likely to turn predominantly dry across most of the state.
Context and Impact
This comes amid an unusually active end-of-October weather pattern for Rajasthan — a state that rarely sees multi-day rain and hail events at this time of year. The dual influence of a Bay of Bengal cyclone's remnant and a Western Disturbance over Punjab represents a convergence of weather systems that has stretched the monsoon's tail further than typical. Farmers in the affected divisions, particularly those with standing kharif crops awaiting harvest, may face crop damage if hailstorms materialise as forecast.
Point of View
But for farmers in Jaipur and Bharatpur divisions with standing kharif crops, hailstorms arriving just before harvest are a serious economic risk that meteorological bulletins tend to understate. If the forecast verifies, the agricultural damage story could outrun the weather story by the weekend.
NationPress
29 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to Cyclone Arnab?
Cyclone Arnab has weakened into a depression over southern Chhattisgarh and is expected to weaken further over the next 24 hours, according to the IMD. It no longer poses a direct cyclone-level threat but its remnant moisture continues to influence weather patterns in central and western India.
Which districts in Rajasthan will be affected by rain and hailstorms on 29 October?
Parts of the Bharatpur, Jaipur, Ajmer, Kota, and Udaipur divisions are likely to experience thunderstorms and light to moderate rainfall on 29 October. Northern parts of the Jaipur and Bharatpur divisions face the highest risk of moderate to heavy rain and hailstorms.
Why is Rajasthan seeing rain and hail despite Cyclone Arnab weakening?
A fresh Western Disturbance has formed an induced cyclonic circulation over Punjab and adjoining areas, independently driving unsettled weather across Rajasthan. The combination of Arnab's remnant moisture and this Western Disturbance has created a convergence of weather systems affecting multiple divisions simultaneously.
When will the rain stop in Rajasthan?
Light to moderate rainfall is expected to continue through 30–31 October in parts of eastern Rajasthan. From 1 November onwards, the IMD forecasts predominantly dry conditions across most of the state.
How much will temperatures drop in Rajasthan?
Maximum temperatures are expected to fall by 3–5 degrees Celsius over the next 24 hours, according to the Meteorological Centre, Jaipur. This will bring noticeable relief from prevailing warm conditions in several parts of the state.
