Sharp Temperature Drop Grips Northern Plains

Daytime temperatures plummeted sharply across northern India on Thursday, with the national capital registering its coldest October day in four years. The unseasonal chill comes in the wake of heavy rains lashing the region, fueled by the weakening remnants of 'very severe' cyclonic storm 'Arnab', which transformed into a deep depression after making landfall along the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coast.

Delhi's base weather station at Safdarjung recorded a maximum temperature of 25.4 degrees Celsius—approximately 5.6 degrees below the seasonal normal. Meteorological officials noted this was the lowest daytime temperature for October since October 8, 2022, when the maximum settled at 23.4 degrees Celsius. Overcast skies and trace rainfall since early morning contributed to the significant dip in the capital's mercury.

Alerts Issued Across Multiple States

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has responded to the shifting weather patterns by issuing 'red' and 'orange' alerts for thunderstorms and heavy rainfall across the Delhi-NCR region, parts of Uttar Pradesh, and neighboring northern states over the next 48 hours.

The weather disturbance has also affected neighboring Haryana and Punjab extensively, where maximum temperatures dropped several notches below average. In Haryana, Ambala recorded a maximum of 23.8 degrees Celsius (six degrees below normal), while Karnal plunged to 20.6 degrees Celsius, marking a staggering nine degrees below the seasonal average. Other districts, including Narnaul, Rohtak, and Bhiwani, reported maximums ranging between 24 and 28 degrees Celsius.

In Punjab, Patiala registered a daytime high of 27.4 degrees Celsius, with Ludhiana, Amritsar, and Bathinda experiencing similarly subdued temperatures.

Regional Forecast and Mountain Chill

The Met Office in Lucknow has predicted an additional drop of 5 to 8 degrees Celsius in maximum temperatures across Uttar Pradesh on October 29 and 30, warning of gusty winds, lightning, and potential hailstorms in western districts. Meanwhile, hill states like Himachal Pradesh witnessed scattered light rains and thunderstorms, with Kukumseri in the tribal Lahaul and Spiti district recording the state's lowest night temperature at minus 1.2 degrees Celsius.

According to IMD projections, the weather system is expected to move progressively northward, gradually weakening into a well-marked low-pressure area as atmospheric conditions stabilize over the coming days.