Amaravati: Severe Cyclonic Storm Murasu is moving towards the Andhra Pradesh coast, prompting red alerts in five districts, heavy rainfall warnings across several states and disruption to flight operations. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast that the storm could cross the south Andhra Pradesh coast late on Monday night or in the early hours of Tuesday, November 3.
The cyclone has intensified over the west-central Bay of Bengal and is expected to bring strong winds and extremely heavy rainfall to parts of Andhra Pradesh. Its impact is also being felt in Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Odisha, where weather alerts have been issued.
Flight operations have been affected as well. Eleven flights at Chennai airport and 10 at Vijayawada airport were reported cancelled on Monday due to adverse weather conditions linked to the cyclone. Passengers have been advised to check with their respective airlines before travelling. <Cite refs={[“turn575550search0″,”turn575550search13”]}/>
When And Where Will Cyclone Murasu Make Landfall?
According to the IMD, Murasu developed from a depression over the southwest Bay of Bengal before intensifying into a cyclonic storm on November 1. It subsequently strengthened into a severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal.
The weather department has forecast that the system will move northwestwards and cross the south Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Narsapur, close to Ongole. The expected landfall window is between 11:30 pm on November 2 and 4 am on November 3.
Wind speeds during landfall could reach 100-110 kmph, with gusts of up to 120 kmph. The IMD has also warned of a storm surge that could inundate low-lying coastal areas. <Cite refs={[“turn660878search3″,”turn660878search7″,”turn660878search9”]}/>
Red Alert In Five Andhra Pradesh Districts
The IMD has issued a red alert for Krishna, Guntur, Bapatla, Prakasam and SPSR Nellore districts, where extremely heavy rainfall is forecast.
Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema are expected to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall on November 2 and 3. Strong winds are also likely along the coast, with the possibility of rough sea conditions.
Authorities have advised fishermen to stay away from the sea and warned against navigation in the affected coastal waters during the period of adverse weather.
Telangana, Odisha And Tamil Nadu Also On Alert
The cyclone’s influence is expected to extend beyond Andhra Pradesh.
In Telangana, heavy to very heavy rainfall, thunderstorms and strong winds have been forecast between November 2 and 5. Khammam, Nalgonda, Suryapet, Mahabubnagar, Nagarkurnool and Wanaparthy are among the districts likely to receive heavy rain. Some areas could also experience strong gusts.
Southern Odisha is expected to receive heavy rainfall between November 2 and 4. The IMD has warned of very heavy rain in several parts of the region on November 3 and 4, accompanied by thunderstorms and strong winds.
In Tamil Nadu, Chennai and Tiruvallur are among the districts facing the possibility of heavy to very heavy rainfall. The northern coastal areas have also been placed under weather warnings as the cyclone approaches Andhra Pradesh.
Cyclone Murasu Follows Recent Cyclone Arnab Damage
The approaching storm comes days after Cyclone Arnab crossed the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coast on October 28, leaving widespread damage in parts of the region.
The earlier cyclone prompted large-scale evacuations in Andhra Pradesh, with tens of thousands of people moved to relief camps. Initial estimates put the damage at around Rs 4,600 crore, while paddy and horticulture crops, houses, roads and power infrastructure were among the affected assets.
In Odisha, heavy rainfall following Cyclone Arnab triggered flash floods and landslides in southern districts, including Ganjam, Gajapati and Kandhamal. Gidipabali village and areas around Patrapur were among the affected locations.
With another severe weather system approaching, authorities in the eastern coastal states are preparing for further rainfall, strong winds and possible flooding.
