Cyclone Arnab to Cross Andhra Coast on October 28, South Odisha on Alert

Bhubaneswar: Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Arnab, centred over the west-central Bay of Bengal about 240 km east-southeast of Kakinada, is moving west-northwest and is expected to cross the Andhra Pradesh-Yanam coast between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam on the morning of October 28, IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said on Tuesday.

The cyclone is packing sustained winds of 140-150 kmph, gusting up to 165 kmph. At landfall, wind speeds may reach 125-135 kmph, with gusts up to 150 kmph, potentially damaging houses, power lines, trees and standing crops.

In Odisha, coastal districts in the south may experience winds of 60-80 kmph, gusting up to 90 kmph. Koraput, Nabarangpur, Malkangiri and Rayagada are likely to experience similar wind speeds as the cyclone’s centre approaches the region by the evening of October 28.

Heavy to very heavy rainfall is forecast over coastal Odisha and north Andhra Pradesh, with extremely heavy rain likely in isolated areas on October 28. The rain belt is expected to shift northward on October 29, affecting Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh.

Mohapatra warned of possible coastal, riverine and urban flooding, besides landslides in the Eastern Ghats. Sea conditions will remain extremely rough, with waves exceeding 14 metres. Fishermen have been advised to return to safety, while shipping and coastal tourism activities should remain regulated.