Cyclone Arnab is strengthening over the Bay of Bengal and bearing down on India’s eastern coast, prompting weather alerts and emergency preparations in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha ahead of an expected landfall on October 28.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the storm was centred over the east-central and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal on Monday morning, approximately 650 kilometres east-southeast of Visakhapatnam. It is expected to cross the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam by Wednesday morning.
Winds of 140 kmph and red alerts
The IMD has forecast sustained winds of 115–125 kmph during landfall, with gusts reaching up to 140 kmph. Heavy to extremely heavy rainfall is expected across several coastal districts, raising concerns about flooding and disruption to daily life.
Red alerts have been issued for several districts in Andhra Pradesh, including Visakhapatnam, Kakinada, East Godavari, West Godavari, Eluru, Krishna and Guntur, with warnings covering October 27 and 28. Authorities have warned of possible inundation in low-lying areas near Kakinada and Yanam due to a storm surge.
Two states prepare
Odisha has stepped up emergency preparations, with its disaster management authorities on alert and fishermen advised not to venture into the sea. The IMD had advised fishermen already at sea to return to the coast by the morning of October 24, before the depression formed.
Andhra Pradesh’s disaster management authority has advised the public and farmers to take precautions in advance, and officials are monitoring vulnerable areas, fallen trees and power restoration plans. Coastal Andhra Pradesh is likely to see extremely heavy rainfall on October 27 and 28, along with thunderstorms and lightning.
Arnab, a Bengali word for ocean, would be the first cyclone to develop over the Bay of Bengal in 2026. Of about four cyclones that form over the North Indian Ocean in an average year, three form over the Bay of Bengal, according to official data cited in Indian reporting. The most consequential period is expected around October 27–29, though the storm’s exact strength and track remain subject to updated IMD forecasts.
