Cyclone Threat in Bay of Bengal, Snowfall in the Himalayas—India Braces for Extreme Weather

Cyclone Threat in Bay of Bengal, Snowfall in the Himalayas—India Braces for Extreme Weather

A new low-pressure system forming over the Bay of Bengal is expected to intensify into a cyclone, triggering heavy rainfall across eastern India. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the system is moving northwestward and is likely to become a depression by October 25, a deep depression by October 26, and a full-fledged cyclone by the morning of October 27.

As a result, Odisha and West Bengal are expected to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall from October 27 to 29. The IMD has issued a yellow alert for 12 districts on Friday, 21 districts on Saturday and Sunday, and a statewide alert for Monday. Odisha’s Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari stated that the government is closely monitoring the situation and is fully prepared to respond. “October is typically cyclone-prone, but there’s no need to panic,” he assured.

In South Bengal, districts like North and South 24 Parganas, East and West Midnapore, Jhargram, and Howrah are likely to experience heavy rainfall between October 28 and 30. Thunderstorm warnings have been issued for Kolkata and Howrah on October 28. In North Bengal, districts such as Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, Cooch Behar, South Dinajpur, and Malda may also see heavy showers on October 29 and 30.

Meanwhile, snowfall and rain in the Himalayan regions have ushered in early winter. Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand have reported falling temperatures and snow in higher altitudes. In Himachal Pradesh, a western disturbance is active, with snowfall expected on October 27. The Shimla weather office predicts clear skies from October 28 to 30, but recent nights have seen temperatures drop significantly—Tabo recorded -2.0°C, while Manali, Kufri, and Dharamshala ranged between 5°C to 12°C.

In Uttarakhand, snowfall in Gangotri, Yamunotri, and Badrinath has led to rain in lower areas like Uttarkashi, Harsil, and Joshimath, increasing the chill. However, Friday brought clear skies and pleasant weather.

In Kerala, relentless rainfall over the past 24 hours has caused widespread damage. Trees and power lines have been uprooted, homes and vehicles damaged, and several districts are facing waterlogging. Reservoirs in Palakkad and Thrissur are nearing capacity, prompting authorities to open dam shutters. The IMD has issued an orange alert for Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kannur, and Kasaragod, forecasting 11–20 cm of rainfall and wind speeds up to 50 km/h. Citizens have been advised to stay alert and avoid waterlogged areas.