India
oi-Oneindia Staff
Andhra Pradesh could be hit by another cyclonic storm just days after Cyclone Arnab affected the coast. A depression forming over the Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into Cyclone Murasu and move towards the Andhra Pradesh coast, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Saturday.
The system is expected to move closer to the coast and could make landfall on the morning of November 3. With heavy rain and strong winds expected, coastal districts have been asked to remain alert.
The IMD predicts Cyclone Murasu could form over the Bay of Bengal and approach the Andhra Pradesh coast by November 3, bringing heavy rain and winds up to 100 kmph, impacting regions including Rayalaseema and South Odisha.
If the depression develops into a cyclonic storm, it will be named Murasu, a name contributed by India. It would be the second cyclonic storm over the Bay of Bengal this year, following Cyclone Arnab, which affected the East Coast last week.
The IMD has warned that parts of Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema and Odisha could receive heavy to extremely heavy rainfall over the next few days.
Cyclone Murasu: Wind Speeds Could Reach 100 Kmph
The developing system could bring sustained winds of 80 to 90 kmph, with gusts reaching 100 kmph, IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said.
However, the storm is expected to be less intense than Cyclone Arnab, which brought winds of around 130 kmph when it crossed the coast.
According to the latest forecast, Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema are likely to receive very heavy rainfall on November 2 and 3. Some places could experience extremely heavy downpours.
South Odisha is also likely to receive heavy rainfall on November 3 and 4. Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam and neighbouring areas of southern India are expected to experience the impact of the developing weather system.
Fishermen Asked To Stay Away From Sea
The IMD has also warned fishermen against venturing into the Bay of Bengal as sea conditions are expected to become rough over the coming days.
Those already at sea have been advised to return to the coast. The restriction is expected to remain in place until Wednesday afternoon.
Mohapatra warned that parts of the west-central, south-east and central Bay of Bengal could experience extremely dangerous sea conditions.
Smaller fishing boats and vessels could face serious risks in these conditions, and fishermen have been advised to avoid the affected areas.
Andhra Pradesh Still Recovering From Cyclone Arnab
The latest warning comes less than a week after Cyclone Arnab crossed the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts on October 28.
The storm brought winds of around 130 kmph and was classified as a very severe cyclonic storm by the IMD. Heavy rainfall and strong winds caused damage in several areas, with houses affected, trees uprooted and electricity supplies disrupted.
At least three people died, while more than 1.8 lakh people were evacuated across Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, according to figures cited in the report.
With another possible cyclone approaching, residents in the affected districts are facing the prospect of another spell of heavy rain and strong winds while recovery from the previous storm is still underway.
IMD Expects Below-Normal Rainfall Across India In November
Interestingly, despite two weather systems developing within a short period, the IMD expects most parts of India to receive below-normal rainfall in November 2026.
South Peninsular India is likely to receive less than 77 per cent of its long-period average rainfall. Most other regions are also expected to record below-normal rainfall, except parts of central, northwestern and northeastern India.
The weather department expects both daytime and night-time temperatures to remain above normal across most parts of the country. The Himalayan foothills and some areas of central and eastern India are likely to be exceptions.
The IMD has also indicated that strong El Niño conditions are likely to continue, while the Indian Ocean Dipole is expected to remain neutral.
For northwestern states, including Delhi and Punjab, the forecast points to largely dry weather and relatively stable temperatures. Most of the rainfall activity is expected to remain concentrated over eastern and southern parts of the country.
