Cyclone Arnab lashes Rajasthan: rain, hailstorms, alerts in 28 districts
Synopsis
Cyclone Arnab has pushed Rajasthan into an early winter shock — 28 districts under weather alerts, temperatures crashing up to 10 degrees Celsius in some areas, and hailstorms disrupting daily life including polling day voting in Alwar. The storm underlines how Bay of Bengal cyclones increasingly reach deep into northwestern India, far from the coast.
Key Takeaways
Cyclone Arnab has triggered rain, hailstorms, and strong winds across Rajasthan as of 30 October 2026 .
The IMD has issued yellow and orange alerts for thunderstorms and rain in 28 districts on Friday.
Maximum temperatures in around 20 districts have dropped by up to 5 degrees Celsius ; minimum temperatures in some areas fell by up to 10 degrees Celsius .
Barmer recorded the state's highest maximum temperature at 35.8 degrees Celsius ; Sikar recorded a minimum of just 10.5 degrees Celsius .
Rainfall caused inconvenience to voters at polling stations in Alwar district during ongoing local elections.
Residents across Rajasthan have been advised to remain alert as the weather system is expected to persist through the weekend.
Cyclone Arnab continued to batter large parts of Rajasthan on Friday, 30 October 2026, triggering widespread rainfall, hailstorms, and strong winds across the state. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued yellow and orange alerts for thunderstorms and rain in 28 districts, urging residents to remain on high alert as the weather system shows no signs of immediate retreat.
Extent of Impact Across Districts
Rainfall over the past 24 hours was recorded across a broad swathe of eastern and central Rajasthan, including Karauli, Bharatpur, Dholpur, Alwar, Dausa, Sawai Madhopur, Bhilwara, Ajmer, Nagaur, and Tonk. In Jaipur, intermittent rain that began on Thursday afternoon continued through the night and into Friday, with hailstorms also reported across several city areas including Tonk Road, Gopalpura, Malviya Nagar, Jagatpura, Ajmeri Gate, and the Collectorate.
Intermittent rainfall has also been persisting since late Thursday night in Pratapgarh village under Thanagazi Panchayat Samiti of Alwar district, causing inconvenience to voters arriving at polling stations, many of whom were seen carrying umbrellas to cast their votes.
Temperature Drop: Up to 10 Degrees Celsius in Some Areas
The cyclone's passage has delivered a sharp thermal shock to the region. Maximum temperatures in around 20 districts have fallen by up to 5 degrees Celsius, while minimum temperatures in some areas have plunged by as much as 10 degrees Celsius. In Jaipur, the maximum temperature dropped 4 degrees to 27.4 degrees Celsius. Sikar recorded a minimum of just 10.5 degrees Celsius, while Alwar's maximum hovered around 27 degrees Celsius.
Western Rajasthan, however, remained comparatively warmer. Barmer logged the state's highest maximum temperature at 35.8 degrees Celsius. Most of the state saw maximums fall below 30 degrees Celsius, barring a few western districts. Jodhpur stayed dry despite cloud cover, recording a maximum of 34.2 degrees Celsius — 0.4 degrees below normal — and a minimum of 20.4 degrees Celsius, around 3 degrees above normal.
City-by-City Weather Snapshot
In Kota, overcast skies prevailed on Thursday morning with no rainfall reported, though sunshine returned by afternoon. The city recorded a maximum of 30.9 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 21.6 degrees Celsius; a rain alert has been issued for Friday. Udaipur saw cloudy conditions throughout Thursday with intermittent sunshine and a maximum of 30 degrees Celsius. Ajmer recorded a maximum of 29.1 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 18 degrees Celsius under persistent cloud cover. Sikar remained overcast all day with a maximum of 30.5 degrees Celsius; the IMD has issued a yellow alert for the district for the next two days.
What the Meteorological Department Has Advised
The IMD has forecast continued rainfall for Jaipur, Alwar, Kota, and Jodhpur on Friday, with yellow alerts active across multiple districts. Residents across Rajasthan have been advised to stay alert as thunderstorms, gusty winds, and spells of rain are expected to continue in several districts through the weekend. This comes amid the broader circulation effects of Cyclone Arnab, which has already affected weather patterns across northwestern India. The situation will be closely monitored as the system evolves further.
Point of View
Which has implications for agriculture, particularly the rabi crop sowing season that typically begins in November.
NationPress
30 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Cyclone Arnab and how is it affecting Rajasthan?
Cyclone Arnab is a weather system whose circulation has brought widespread rainfall, hailstorms, and strong winds to large parts of Rajasthan. As of 30 October 2026, 28 districts are under yellow or orange weather alerts issued by the IMD, with temperatures dropping sharply across eastern and central parts of the state.
Which districts in Rajasthan are on weather alert due to Cyclone Arnab?
The IMD has issued yellow and orange alerts covering 28 districts. Rainfall has already been reported in Jaipur, Karauli, Bharatpur, Dholpur, Alwar, Dausa, Sawai Madhopur, Bhilwara, Ajmer, Nagaur, Tonk, Sikar, Udaipur, Kota, and Jodhpur, among others.
How much have temperatures fallen in Rajasthan because of Cyclone Arnab?
Maximum temperatures in around 20 districts have declined by up to 5 degrees Celsius, while minimum temperatures in some areas have fallen by as much as 10 degrees Celsius. Jaipur's maximum dropped 4 degrees to 27.4 degrees Celsius, and Sikar recorded a minimum of just 10.5 degrees Celsius.
Has Cyclone Arnab affected elections or civic activities in Rajasthan?
Yes. Intermittent rainfall in Pratapgarh village under Thanagazi Panchayat Samiti in Alwar district caused inconvenience to voters arriving at polling stations, with many carrying umbrellas to cast their votes during ongoing local elections.
Is western Rajasthan also affected by Cyclone Arnab?
Western Rajasthan has seen comparatively milder effects. Barmer recorded the state's highest maximum temperature at 35.8 degrees Celsius, and Jodhpur remained dry despite cloud cover. Most impact has been concentrated in eastern and central districts of the state.
