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Environment & Climate26 Oct 2026 · about 7 min

Cyclone Arnab to make landfall on October 28 in Andhra Pradesh, evacuation of 5.7 lakh people to start soon

The brief

Cyclone Arnab is a powerful tropical storm that formed over the Bay of Bengal. The India Meteorological Department expects it to intensify before reaching Andhra Pradesh. Its approach matters because cyclones can bring destructive winds, very heavy rain, flooding, and major disruptions to coastal communities. The article warns of heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in northern and central coastal Andhra Pradesh and parts of southern Odisha. Landfall occurs when the cyclone crosses the coastline and moves from the sea over land. Arnab is expected to make landfall on Wednesday morning, October 28. Forecast wind gusts could reach 140 kmph. Before landfall, authorities are preparing evacuations, moving vulnerable residents to safer places, and asking fishing boats to return to shore. The storm's effects will not stop exactly at the landfall point. Odisha and West Bengal may also receive heavy rain and strong winds. Andhra Pradesh expects to begin evacuating some of the 5.7 lakh identified vulnerable residents, while Odisha is preparing shelters and closing schools and colleges in five districts.

01

What is Cyclone Arnab, and what does it mean for a cyclone to make landfall?

Cyclone Arnab is a powerful tropical storm that formed over the Bay of Bengal. The India Meteorological Department expects it to intensify before reaching Andhra Pradesh. Its approach matters because cyclones can bring destructive winds, very heavy rain, flooding, and major disruptions to coastal communities. The article warns of heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in northern and central coastal Andhra Pradesh and parts of southern Odisha.

Landfall occurs when the cyclone crosses the coastline and moves from the sea over land. Arnab is expected to make landfall on Wednesday morning, October 28. Forecast wind gusts could reach 140 kmph. Before landfall, authorities are preparing evacuations, moving vulnerable residents to safer places, and asking fishing boats to return to shore.

The storm's effects will not stop exactly at the landfall point. Odisha and West Bengal may also receive heavy rain and strong winds. Andhra Pradesh expects to begin evacuating some of the 5.7 lakh identified vulnerable residents, while Odisha is preparing shelters and closing schools and colleges in five districts.

02

How strong is the storm expected to be, and how many people in Andhra Pradesh may need evacuation?

Cyclone Arnab is expected to strengthen before crossing the Andhra Pradesh coast. The forecast says wind gusts could reach up to 140 kmph. Such strong winds can damage buildings, trees, roads, power lines, and other infrastructure. The storm is also expected to bring heavy to extremely heavy rain, increasing the risk of flooding and wider disruption across coastal districts.

The scale of the evacuation planning is also significant. Andhra Pradesh has identified around 5.7 lakh people living in vulnerable areas who may need to move. A senior disaster management official said evacuation operations were expected to start by Monday evening. Residents would be moved to safer locations before the cyclone reaches the coast.

The figures show why officials are acting before landfall rather than waiting for conditions to worsen. Fishing boats have been ordered back to shore, and officials have been told to restore electricity quickly after possible outages. Odisha is also preparing shelters and closing schools and colleges in five districts.

03

Which areas are most at risk from Cyclone Arnab, and when is it expected to reach the Andhra Pradesh coast?

The areas most exposed are northern and central coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh. The India Meteorological Department has warned that these districts could receive heavy to extremely heavy rainfall as Arnab approaches. Southern parts of Odisha are also at risk from intense rain. Low-lying and otherwise vulnerable communities are the main focus of evacuation planning.

The cyclone is expected to make landfall on the Andhra Pradesh coast on Wednesday morning, October 28. It developed over the Bay of Bengal and may intensify further before crossing the coast. Forecast wind gusts could reach 140 kmph, adding wind damage to the danger from rain and flooding. Fishing boats at sea have been told to return to shore.

The threat extends beyond the immediate landfall area. Several West Bengal districts may receive rain from October 27 to 30. Heavy rain is possible in several southern and western districts from October 28 to 30, while some sub-Himalayan districts may see heavy rain on October 29 and 30.

04

Why are authorities evacuating residents, recalling fishing boats, closing schools, and preparing cyclone shelters?

Authorities are acting because Cyclone Arnab may bring wind gusts up to 140 kmph and heavy to extremely heavy rain. These conditions can threaten people in low-lying or exposed areas, damage homes and infrastructure, and disrupt electricity. Moving residents before conditions deteriorate gives emergency teams more time and makes travel safer.

Andhra Pradesh has identified around 5.7 lakh vulnerable people for possible evacuation. Fishing boats are being recalled because boats at sea could face dangerous winds and rough conditions. Odisha is closing schools and colleges in five districts on Tuesday and Wednesday. This keeps students and staff away from travel and buildings during the storm's approach.

Cyclone shelters give evacuated residents designated safer places to stay. Odisha is preparing shelters for people from low-lying and vulnerable areas, while Andhra Pradesh is arranging moves to safer locations. Officials are also preparing for power outages and have been instructed to restore electricity quickly where strong winds or rain cause disruption.

05

What does the India Meteorological Department do during a cyclone, and how do its warnings guide government action?

The India Meteorological Department, or IMD, provides the forecasts used to understand a cyclone's likely movement, strength, rainfall, and wind threat. In this case, it said Arnab could intensify before crossing the Andhra Pradesh coast. It also warned of heavy to extremely heavy rain in coastal Andhra Pradesh and southern Odisha.

These warnings turn weather information into practical decisions. A forecast of landfall on Wednesday morning and wind gusts up to 140 kmph supports early evacuation planning. Andhra Pradesh identified around 5.7 lakh vulnerable residents, ordered fishing boats back to shore, and prepared for power disruptions. Odisha planned school closures and cyclone shelters.

Warnings also help neighbouring states prepare for indirect effects. West Bengal expects rainfall in several districts between October 27 and 30, with some areas facing heavy rain. Squally winds of 35 to 45 kmph, gusting to 55 kmph, are expected along and off its coast. Governments can adjust these measures as forecasts evolve.

06

Why is the Bay of Bengal especially prone to severe tropical cyclones, and why can nearby states such as Odisha and West Bengal also be affected?

The article identifies the Bay of Bengal as one of the world's major cyclone-prone regions and says it frequently experiences severe tropical storms. A well-established reason is its warm tropical waters, which supply energy to developing storms. Moist air and suitable atmospheric conditions can help a low-pressure system organize and strengthen.

A cyclone's danger is not limited to the point where its centre crosses land. Strong winds extend around the storm, while large rain bands can reach far from the centre. As Arnab approaches Andhra Pradesh, the IMD warned of heavy rain in southern Odisha. The storm also prompted preparations in both eastern coastal states.

West Bengal may experience light to moderate rain in several districts from October 27 to 30. Heavy rain is possible in parts of south and western Bengal from October 28 to 30. Coastal West Bengal may also see winds of 35 to 45 kmph, gusting to 55 kmph, showing how regional the effects can be.

07

How do warm ocean water, moist air, and low atmospheric pressure combine to form and strengthen a tropical cyclone?

A tropical cyclone begins around a region of low atmospheric pressure over warm ocean water. Warm water increases evaporation, adding moisture to the air above the sea. When this moist air rises and cools, water vapour condenses into clouds and releases heat. That heat helps the air rise further and lowers pressure near the surface.

Lower pressure pulls surrounding air inward. The incoming air gains moisture from the ocean and rises through growing bands of thunderstorms. Earth’s rotation helps the system develop a curved, spinning structure. If the storm remains over warm water and winds in the surrounding atmosphere do not disrupt it, the circulation can become better organized and stronger.

The source article does not explain Arnab’s physical formation in these terms. It does state that Arnab developed over the Bay of Bengal and is likely to intensify before crossing the Andhra Pradesh coast. That strengthening is why officials are preparing evacuations, shelters, boat returns, and other safety measures.

This brief was written by AI from the original reporting and checked by other models. Names, figures and quotes come from the source; read it for full context.

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