Cyclone Arnab: Nepal braces for heavy rain and Himalayan snow from 29 to 31 October

Nepal's Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM) has issued a special weather bulletin warning that a Bay of Bengal cyclone, named Arnab in Nepali reporting, will bring rain, thunderstorms and heavy high-altitude snowfall from the night of Thursday 29 October. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) has urged authorities and the public to stay on high alert from 29 to 31 October, with the most severe conditions expected on Friday 30 and Saturday 31 October.

The system is forecast to make landfall on India's east coast, near Andhra Pradesh, on 28 October. Moderate rain is expected across Koshi, Madhesh, Bagmati, Gandaki and Lumbini provinces, with heavy falls possible in some places. Parts of Karnali and Sudurpashchim may see rain, and the high hills and Himalaya face a risk of heavy snowfall, snowstorms and avalanches. Reports say flooding, landslides, road blockages, flight disruption and damage to ripening paddy are possible. The US Embassy in Kathmandu has advised its citizens to avoid high-altitude trekking and mountaineering from 29 to 31 October.

The warning matters because many communities are still recovering from the 26 August glacial and rock collapse and flash flood on the Nepal–China border, and Nepal's disaster agency recorded 395 deaths in disaster incidents between 14 April and 26 October. For Nepali families in the UK, the practical points are to check on relatives in the affected provinces, avoid unnecessary travel to or through them, and follow official bulletins. NDRRMA's published helplines include 1155 (weather), 1234 (disaster assistance), 100 (police) and 1144 (Tourist Police). UK travellers should check Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office travel advice before departing; we have not verified whether it has been updated for this event.

What remains uncertain: the exact storm track and intensity may change, and the specific districts marked as high risk have not been published in the reports we reviewed. Latest verified update: NDRRMA alert, published 27 October 2026.