Extremely heavy rain to hit Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday as Cyclone Arnab comes close

Cyclone Arnab is set to intensify and approach the Andhra Pradesh coast. The system will spread heavy rainfall and strong winds across several states.

In Short

• Landfall is forecast between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam towards Yanam on Wednesday
• Maximum sustained winds may reach 125 kmph, with 140 kmph gusts
• Rain warnings expand across eastern and central India through Friday

Cyclone Arnab is expected to intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm over the Bay of Bengal on Tuesday, October 27, bringing extremely heavy rainfall to coastal Andhra Pradesh and triggering widespread rain warnings across eastern and central India over the next few days, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The weather system, which was over the east-central and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal, moved westwards at around 15 kmph.

In its latest update, the IMD located the storm near latitude 15.4° North and longitude 88.5° East, around 580 km southeast of Gopalpur and 60 km east-southeast of Visakhapatnam.

The cyclone is very likely to move west-northwestwards and intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm before becoming a very severe cyclonic storm on October 27.

It is forecast to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, towards Yanam, by the evening of October 28, with maximum sustained winds of 115-125 kmph and gusts reaching 140 kmph, according to the IMD forecast.

EXTREMELY HEAVY RAINFALL WARNING

For Tuesday, the IMD has forecast isolated extremely heavy rainfall over coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is also likely over Odisha, while thunderstorms are possible over coastal Andhra Pradesh and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

The rainfall threat is expected to expand on Wednesday, October 28, with extremely heavy rain likely over coastal Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Telangana and Chhattisgarh.

Vidarbha may receive very heavy rainfall, while heavy rain is forecast over parts of eastern Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and Gangetic West Bengal.

On Thursday, October 29, extremely heavy rainfall is likely over east Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. East Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha may experience very heavy rainfall, while several other regions could receive heavy showers.

The IMD has also warned of very heavy rainfall over east Uttar Pradesh and Bihar on October 30, with heavy rain likely over parts of eastern and northern India.

MORE WEATHER SYSTEMS TO INFLUENCE CONDITIONS

Apart from Cyclone Arnab, a low-pressure area over the southwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas near south coastal Tamil Nadu is influencing weather conditions.

A western disturbance is present as a cyclonic circulation over north Haryana, while another circulation lies over southwest Rajasthan.

A fresh western disturbance is likely to affect northwest India from the night of October 27.

The IMD said very heavy rainfall was recorded in Tamil Nadu during the preceding 24 hours, while Kerala and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands received heavy rainfall.

The evolving cyclone and additional weather systems are expected to keep several parts of the country on alert through the week.

- Ends