UP, Oct 30 : After wreaking havoc in southern India with gusty winds and torrential rain, Cyclone Montha has now weakened into a well marked low-pressure area. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the system once a severe cyclonic storm lay centered over east Vidarbha and adjoining south Chhattisgarh on Thursday morning and is expected to move northwards toward east Madhya Pradesh and adjoining north Chhattisgarh, gradually weakening further over the next 24 hours.
The IMD said the depression over the east-central Arabian Sea has also moved westward and continues to influence the region’s weather patterns, lying about 400 km southwest of Veraval and 510 km west-southwest of Mumbai.
Bihar on Alert for Heavy Rainfall and Thunderstorms
The Patna Meteorological Centre has issued a heavy rain alert for Bihar from October 30 to 31, warning of possible thunderstorms and gusty winds up to 40 km/h.
Districts such as West and East Champaran, Gopalganj, Siwan, Sitamarhi, Darbhanga, Madhubani, and Supaul are likely to experience very heavy rainfall, while a yellow alert has been sounded for Buxar, Kaimur, Rohtas, Jehanabad, Aurangabad, Vaishali, Sheohar, Saran, Muzaffarpur, Saharsa, and Madhepura.
Light rainfall was already recorded in Patna, Gaya, Motihari, Bhagalpur, and Aurangabad on Wednesday. The persistent cloud cover and rain are expected to lower maximum temperatures by 4–6°C over the next three days, while the minimum temperature is likely to remain steady.
The weather disruption has even affected political events Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s public meeting in Chhapra was cancelled due to heavy rain warnings.
Eastern UP to See Rains, Western Belt to Stay Dry
In Uttar Pradesh, the remnants of Cyclone Montha are likely to bring moderate to heavy rainfall in parts of eastern UP, including Prayagraj, Varanasi, Mirzapur, Ghazipur, and Mau.
Light showers are also predicted in Azamgarh, Jaunpur, Chandauli, and Kaushambi, while western UP is expected to remain mostly dry but cloudy, with a slight dip in temperature and fog formation.
IMD officials said, “Light to moderate rain is likely at most places on October 30 and 31, with heavy to very heavy rainfall in some northern and southern districts.”
With Cyclone Montha’s remnants shifting northward, both Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh are bracing for two days of intense rainfall, cooler temperatures, and possible disruption of outdoor activities.