The IMD has issued a cyclone alert for Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu as Cyclonic Storm ‘Murasu’ intensifies over the Bay of Bengal and heads toward landfall.
Published: November 1, 2026, 5:44 PM IST
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Odisha Cyclone ‘Arnab’ (IANS)
Murasu cyclone: In a matter of alert for the residents of coastal Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday issued a cyclone alert as the deep depression in the Bay of Bengal has intensified into a cyclonic stormThe cyclone, which has been given the name ‘Murasu’, is likely to intensify into a severe cyclone and cross the Andhra Pradesh coast on November 2-3The rapid intensification of the deep depression over the Bay of Bengal into Cyclonic Storm ‘Murasu’ serves as another urgent reminder of the extreme weather vulnerabilities facing India’s eastern seaboardWith the IMD tracking the storm’s steady trajectory toward the Andhra Pradesh coast, early warnings offer a critical window for local administrations to safeguard vulnerable communities.
The deep depression moved west-northwestwards with speed of 23 kmph during past 6 hours, intensified into the cyclonic storm ‘Murasu’ and lay centered at 11.30 a.mIST of Sunday over southwest &; adjoining westcentral Bay of Bengal, about 560 km east-southeast of Chennai (Tamil Nadu), 660 km south-southeast of Vishakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), 630 km east-southeast of Nellore (Andhra Pradesh), 640 km southeast of Machilipatnam (Andhra Pradesh) and 680 km east-southeast of Ongole (Andhra Pradesh).
Distance from Key Coastal Locations:
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Chennai (Tamil Nadu): ~560 km east-southeast
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Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh): ~660 km south-southeast
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Nellore (Andhra Pradesh): ~630 km east-southeast
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Machilipatnam (Andhra Pradesh): ~640 km southeast
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Ongole (Andhra Pradesh): ~680 km east-southeast
State authorities across Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and neighboring regions have been placed on high alert as rescue teams prepare for coastal impactsIt is very likely to move west-northwestwards and intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal around Monday morning.
Thereafter, it is very likely to move northwestwards and cross the south Andhra Pradesh coast as a severe cyclonic storm with wind speed of 100 to 110 kmph gusting 120kmph between Nellore and Narsapur during midnight (2330 Hrs IST) of 2nd to early hours (0400 Hrs IST) on TuesdayThis will be the second cyclonic storm to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast in less than a week.
Very severe cyclonic storm ‘Arnab’ crossed the Andhra Pradesh coast near Narsapur in the early hours of October 28, with the maximum sustained wind speed of 125-135 kmph gusting to 150 kmphIt claimed seven lives and caused widespread damage to crops, roads, electricity and telecom infrastructure in the coastal districts.
Crops over thousands of acres were damaged in the cyclone while hundreds of electricity polls and trees were uprootedAs per preliminary estimates, the cyclone caused losses of Rs 4,600 croreA Central team is currently visiting the state to assess the damage caused by the cyclone.
(With inputs from agencies)
