Cyclone Arnab: Bengal braces for rain, fishermen barred from sea till Thursday
Synopsis
Cyclone Arnab is bearing down on the Andhra Pradesh coast with gusts potentially hitting 140 kmph — but its ripple effects are already shutting fishermen out of the Bay of Bengal and pushing heavy rain toward Kolkata and four south Bengal districts. This is the most significant Bay of Bengal cyclonic event to affect eastern India this season.
Key Takeaways
The RMC Kolkata has barred fishermen from the Bay of Bengal from 28 to 30 October 2026 due to Cyclone Arnab .
Cyclone Arnab is projected to make landfall on the Andhra Pradesh coast, with wind gusts between 115–125 kmph and maximum speeds up to 140 kmph .
South Bengal districts including South 24 Parganas , East Midnapore , West Midnapore , and Jhargram face heavy rain from Wednesday onward.
North Bengal districts — Darjeeling , Jalpaiguri , Kalimpong , and Alipurduar — are expected to receive heavy rain in isolated areas on Thursday and Friday .
Kolkata recorded 89% humidity and a maximum of 31.05°C on Sunday; conditions are expected to worsen through the week.
Cyclone Arnab, tracking toward the Andhra Pradesh coast, has prompted the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Kolkata to prohibit fishermen from venturing into the Bay of Bengal from Tuesday, 28 October to Thursday, 30 October 2026. While West Bengal is not in the direct path of the storm, the system is expected to trigger fresh spells of rain and gusty winds across several districts of the state.
Fishing Ban and Coastal Alert
The RMC Kolkata issued the sea-restriction order on Monday, 26 October, barring fishermen from setting out until further instructions. The restriction is tied to the evolving cyclonic situation over the bay and is expected to remain in place until the system weakens or moves away from the Indian coastline. Coastal communities in South 24 Parganas and East Midnapore have been advised to exercise caution.
Rainfall Forecast for West Bengal
According to a Meteorological Department official, the indirect impact of Cyclone Arnab will bring light to moderate rain to coastal and adjoining districts of south Bengal, including Kolkata, on Tuesday and Wednesday. 'Due to the indirect impact of the cyclone, rain and gusty winds may occur in various districts of the state. The amount of rain will increase in south Bengal from Thursday,' the official said.
Rainfall is forecast to intensify across south Bengal from Wednesday, with heavy showers expected in isolated areas between Wednesday and Friday. Districts including South 24 Parganas, East Midnapore, West Midnapore, and Jhargram are expected to bear the brunt on Thursday.
North Bengal Also on Watch
The weather system's reach extends to North Bengal as well. Light to moderate rain is anticipated in Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Kalimpong, and Alipurduar on Thursday and Friday. Heavy rainfall may occur at isolated locations in these districts toward the end of the week.
Cyclone's Direct Impact on Andhra Coast
Cyclone Arnab is expected to make landfall along the Andhra Pradesh coast, where conditions are forecast to be significantly more severe. Wind gusts along the Andhra coastline and adjoining areas could reach between 115 and 125 kmph, with maximum wind speeds potentially touching 140 kmph, according to the forecast. Authorities in Andhra Pradesh are reportedly monitoring the situation closely.
Kolkata Weather Update
Kolkata recorded a maximum temperature of 31.05 degrees Celsius on Sunday, 25 October, marginally below the seasonal normal by 0.02 degrees. The minimum temperature stood at 23.04 degrees Celsius, 0.04 degrees above normal. Relative humidity was recorded at 89 percent in the morning and 50 percent in the evening, pointing to persistently humid conditions across the city. As the cyclone approaches landfall, conditions in Kolkata are expected to deteriorate gradually through the week.
Point of View
Threatening Andhra Pradesh with direct landfall fury while leaving Bengal to manage the less-visible but still disruptive indirect effects. The fishing ban is the right precautionary step, but the window between alert and enforcement remains dangerously short for communities that depend on daily marine income. What this season has also underscored is the importance of granular district-level forecasting: the split between south Bengal's heavy-rain districts and the relatively lighter impact on Kolkata proper is exactly the kind of nuance that earlier forecasting failed to provide and that can mean the difference between a targeted evacuation and a city-wide panic.
NationPress
26 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Cyclone Arnab and where is it expected to make landfall?
Cyclone Arnab is a cyclonic system developing over the Bay of Bengal, expected to make landfall along the Andhra Pradesh coast. Wind gusts near the landfall zone could reach 115 to 125 kmph, with maximum wind speed potentially hitting 140 kmph.
Why have fishermen been banned from the sea in West Bengal?
The Regional Meteorological Centre in Kolkata issued a ban on fishermen venturing into the Bay of Bengal from 28 to 30 October 2026 due to the developing cyclonic conditions associated with Cyclone Arnab. The restriction is in place until further instructions from the weather office.
Which districts in West Bengal are most likely to be affected by Cyclone Arnab?
South 24 Parganas, East Midnapore, West Midnapore, and Jhargram are forecast to receive increased and heavy rainfall from Thursday onwards. North Bengal districts — Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Kalimpong, and Alipurduar — are also expected to see heavy rain in isolated areas on Thursday and Friday.
Will Kolkata be directly affected by Cyclone Arnab?
Kolkata is not expected to face a direct impact, as Cyclone Arnab is projected to make landfall far from the West Bengal coast. However, light to moderate rain and gusty winds are forecast in Kolkata and coastal south Bengal on Tuesday and Wednesday, with conditions gradually worsening through the week.
How does the indirect impact of a Bay of Bengal cyclone typically affect West Bengal?
When a cyclone makes landfall on a neighbouring coast like Andhra Pradesh, its outer bands and moisture-laden winds still bring enhanced rainfall and strong gusts to West Bengal, particularly its southern and coastal districts. The effect is less severe than a direct hit but can still cause flooding and disruption, especially in low-lying areas of South 24 Parganas and East Midnapore.
