Cyclone Arnab tracker: Red alerts in Andhra, Odisha as ‘very severe’ storm nears coast; landfall likely on Oct 28

Cyclone Arnab is forecast to reach the eastern coast by the forenoon of October 28. The IMD expects it to cross the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam. This timing matters because communities have only a limited window to complete preparations and move people from exposed areas.

The cyclone was moving west-northwestward at 23 kmph late on October 26. The Regional Meteorological Centre in Bhubaneswar expected that movement to continue until the evening of October 27, followed by a northwestward turn toward the coast. The Visakhapatnam Doppler Weather Radar was continuously monitoring the system.

The forecast can change as the storm approaches. Residents should follow official advisories, avoid closed beaches, and use designated shelters if asked to move. The article also reports fishing restrictions and closures of schools in several Odisha districts on October 28 and 29.

In India’s cyclone classification, a very severe cyclonic storm is a high-intensity tropical system defined by very strong maximum sustained winds. The IMD category signals a serious threat to coastal communities, infrastructure, transport, and public safety. The article identifies Arnab as a very severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal.

The IMD forecasts Arnab’s maximum sustained winds at 115–125 kmph, with gusts reaching 140 kmph. Sustained wind refers to the storm’s continuing wind strength, while gusts are shorter, stronger bursts. These winds can make travel dangerous and increase the risk of damage, especially near the landfall zone.

Arnab’s classification means preparation must happen before landfall. Authorities have closed beaches, prohibited fishing, shut schools in vulnerable Odisha districts, and advised people to use safe shelters. The exact impacts will depend on the storm’s final track and intensity.

Cyclone Arnab is a large-scale coastal weather threat, but the article does not provide its diameter or the total area covered by damaging winds. It does identify the main forecast zone: the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam. Odisha is also preparing for severe effects, including torrential rain and winds gusting up to 80 kmph.

Near the expected landfall area, the IMD forecasts maximum sustained winds of 115–125 kmph. Shorter gusts could reach 140 kmph. In Odisha, the article specifically reports gusts up to 80 kmph. These different figures reflect conditions expected in different parts of the storm’s influence area.

The article gives no numerical rainfall estimate, storm diameter, or precise coastal impact radius. It does state that schools are closed in six Odisha districts and that authorities are preparing vulnerable areas. Conditions may change as Arnab moves toward the coast.

When Arnab reaches the coast, communities in Andhra Pradesh, Yanam, Odisha, and nearby coastal areas could face strong winds and heavy rain. The IMD expects the cyclone to cross between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam. Odisha is preparing for severe impacts, including torrential rain and winds gusting up to 80 kmph.

The storm’s forecast winds near landfall are 115–125 kmph, with gusts up to 140 kmph. Such conditions can make travel unsafe, damage property, disrupt power and communications, and create dangerous conditions along beaches and fishing areas. The article does not provide a detailed damage forecast or rainfall total.

Authorities have closed Andhra Pradesh beaches to the public and prohibited fishing. Schools and educational institutions in six Odisha districts are closed on October 28 and 29. People are advised to follow official warnings, move to safer places when directed, and shelter in safe buildings rather than under trees.

Doppler weather radar helps meteorologists observe a cyclone as it approaches land. It can detect rain bands and estimate how precipitation is moving. Doppler measurements also reveal wind motion within the storm, helping forecasters assess its structure and changing intensity. This information matters because a small track shift can change which communities face the strongest conditions.

For Arnab, the Doppler Weather Radar at Visakhapatnam is keeping the system under continuous surveillance. Forecasters also use the storm’s observed position and speed. The Regional Meteorological Centre in Bhubaneswar reported west-northwestward movement at 23 kmph late on October 26, then forecast a turn northwestward toward the coast.

Radar is combined with satellite imagery, weather models, and reports from other observing systems. Together, these tools support warnings about landfall timing, wind, and rain. Forecasts remain updates rather than guarantees, so people should follow the latest official advisories.

Authorities take preventive steps because a powerful cyclone can make ordinary travel and outdoor activity dangerous very quickly. Schools, beaches, boats, and exposed homes can place people directly in the path of strong winds, torrential rain, and rough coastal conditions. Early action gives communities time to move safely instead of reacting during the storm.

The article reports that fishing has been prohibited and Andhra Pradesh beaches have been closed. Schools and other educational institutions in Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Koraput, and Nabarangpur are closed on October 28 and 29. These measures reduce the number of people in high-risk locations.

Authorities are also urging people to follow official advisories, prepare to move to safer places, and use safe shelters rather than trees. The goal is to prevent injuries and deaths before Arnab reaches the coast. Clear warnings and public cooperation are essential as the forecast develops.

Tropical cyclones generally begin over warm ocean water. Heat causes seawater to evaporate, adding moisture to the air. This warm, moist air rises, lowering pressure near the surface. As surrounding air moves inward and the planet’s rotation turns the flow, a rotating storm can develop. Condensation higher up releases heat, supplying more energy to the system.

A cyclone intensifies when the ocean remains warm, moisture is plentiful, and winds higher in the atmosphere do not tear the circulation apart. A well-organized center and persistent thunderstorms allow the storm to strengthen. These processes explain why cyclones can grow rapidly over favorable ocean conditions.

The article reports that Arnab intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal. It does not explain the storm’s specific ocean temperature, internal structure, or wind-shear conditions. The IMD’s continuing radar surveillance is tracking how its intensity and path change before landfall.