Cyclone Arnab's remnant chills Sikkim: Gangtok's high falls 11.4°C

The remnant of Cyclone Arnab has brought rain and a sudden chill to Sikkim, with Gangtok's maximum temperature falling by 11.4 degrees Celsius in two days, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

The cyclone has weakened into a low-pressure area, but its leftover circulation is still shaping the weather over the state, Debapriya Roy, head of the IMD's Gangtok centre, told EastMojo. He said rain is likely across Sikkim on Friday and Saturday, with heavy rainfall possible at one or two places.

The numbers

Gangtok recorded a maximum of 25.3°C and a minimum of 13.1°C on October 27, and 25.4°C and 14.2°C on October 28. The latest readings show a maximum of just 14°C and a minimum of 12.4°C, with 21.2 mm of rain. That leaves the day barely warmer than the night.

Yuksom in Gyalshing district received 60.8 mm of rain in 24 hours, the heaviest reported among the figures released.

The wet spell follows early snowfall at higher altitudes this week, which turned Nathu La, Gnathang and Tsomgo white and led to the road to Nathu La being closed to tourists.

Advisory for vulnerable areas

Roy advised residents, especially those living in kutcha houses and in landslide-prone areas, to take precautions while the rain lasts. Travellers heading to North and East Sikkim should check road conditions before setting out, as rain and snow have already disrupted traffic on high-altitude routes this week.

A wetter monsoon this year

The IMD's seasonal data shows Sikkim had a better monsoon in 2026 than the year before. Between June 1 and September 30, the state received 1,761.7 mm of rain against a normal of 1,672.9 mm, or 5 per cent above normal. In 2025 it received 1,514.4 mm, a 10 per cent deficit.

District figures varied widely:

• Gyalshing: 2,431.7 mm, 35 per cent above normal (24 per cent deficit in 2025)
• Soreng: 2,108 mm, 17 per cent above normal (36 per cent deficit in 2025)
• Namchi: 1,948 mm, 16 per cent above normal (47 per cent excess in 2025)
• Mangan: 1,548.4 mm, almost exactly normal
• Pakyong: 1,580.7 mm, 1 per cent below normal
• Gangtok: 1,992 mm, 8 per cent below its normal of 2,170 mm

Roy said this year's monsoon had been about 5 per cent above normal overall and attributed the recent rain partly to the cyclone's influence.

With temperatures dropping sharply and more rain forecast, residents and tourists can expect a cold, damp weekend in the hills.