LUCKNOW, Oct. 28 -- Unseasonal rain accompanied by strong winds is expected in the state between October 28 and 31 due to the impact of an 'extremely severe cyclonic storm' called Arnab that has formed over the Bay of Bengal, said a weatherman on Tuesday. The IMD has issued an orange alert for 40 districts of Uttar Pradesh on Thursday and Friday (October 29 and 30}) to brace for the impact of 'Arnab'. This is the second-highest level in the IMD's four-stage colour-coded weather warning system (Green, Yellow, Orange, Red) which means 'be prepared'. Apart from that, the IMD has issued a yellow alert for Lucknow, Kanpur city, Unnao and nearby areas as there is a likelihood of thunderstorms and lightning accompanied by gusty winds (at speeds of 40-50 km/h) on Thursday and Friday. Since this cyclonic system is expected to influence the state's weather starting October 28, widespread unseasonal rain-accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, strong, gusty winds-is anticipated across the eastern and central regions of the state on October 29 and 30. It is likely to cause a significant drop in day temperatures by 6-9degC. For Wednesday, the IMD has issued yellow alert in Prayagraj, Sonbhadra, Mirzapur, Chandauli, and surrounding regions as there is a high probability of thunderstorms/lightning accompanied by gusty winds (speeds of 30-40 km/h, reaching up to 50 km/h in gusts). For Thursday, there is an orange alert, meaning the likelihood of heavy to very heavy rainfall is high in 12 districts: Prayagraj, Pratapgarh, Sonbhadra, Mirzapur, Chandauli, Varanasi, Sant Ravidas Nagar, Jaunpur, Ghazipur, Azamgarh, Mau, Ballia, and surrounding areas. There is a yellow alert for the likelihood of heavy rainfall in Chitrakoot, Kaushambi, Deoria, Gorakhpur, Sultanpur, Ambedkar Nagar, and surrounding areas. There is likelihood of thunderstorms/lightning accompanied by gusty winds (at speeds of 40-50 km/h) in 40 districts including Lucknow, Barabanki, Rae Bareli, Amethi, Sultanpur, Ayodhya, Kanpur City, Unnao, Banda, Chitrakoot, Prayagraj, Fatehpur, Pratapgarh, Sonbhadra, Mirzapur, Chandauli, Varanasi, Sant Ravidas Nagar, Jaunpur, Ghazipur, Azamgarh, Mau, Ballia, Deoria, Gorakhpur, Sant Kabir Nagar, Basti, Siddharth Nagar, Gonda, Balrampur, Shamli, Muzaffarnagar, Meerut, Bijnor, Hamirpur, Mahoba, Lalitpur, and surrounding areas. An orange alert has been issued for Friday too as there is a likelihood of heavy to very heavy rainfall in Deoria, Gorakhpur, Sant Kabir Nagar, Basti, Kushinagar, Maharajganj, Siddharthnagar, Balrampur, and surrounding regions. There is a likelihood of thunderstorms/lightning accompanied by gusty winds (at speeds of 40-50 km/h) in many districts including Lucknow, Barabanki, Rae Bareli, Amethi, Sultanpur, Ayodhya, Lakhimpur Kheri, Sitapur, Hardoi, Unnao, and Pratapgarh on Friday. Also there is a yellow alert likelihood of heavy rainfall in Ghazipur, Azamgarh, Mau, Ballia, Gonda, Shravasti, Bahraich, Lakhimpur Kheri, Sitapur, Barabanki, Ayodhya, Ambedkar Nagar, and surrounding regions....