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Environment & Climate27 Oct 2026 · about 6 min

Cyclone Arnab LIVE Tracker: Where is cyclonic storm Arnab located? Track path and landfall updates here

The brief

Cyclone Arnab was moving across the west-central Bay of Bengal toward India’s east coast. At 1130 IST on October 27, it was centered near 16.2°N and 83.7°E. This placed it about 170 km south-southeast of Visakhapatnam and 180 km east-southeast of Kakinada. The storm was moving west-northwest at about 20 kmph during the previous six hours. The India Meteorological Department expected it to turn northwestward and cross the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam. The forecast placed the crossing close to Yanam. Arnab was expected to reach the coast by the forenoon of October 28 as a very severe cyclonic storm. Forecast winds were 125-135 kmph, with gusts up to 150 kmph. These details explain why Andhra Pradesh, Yanam, and nearby Odisha began evacuations and emergency preparations.

01

Where is Cyclone Arnab now, and which part of the Indian coast is it expected to cross?

Cyclone Arnab was moving across the west-central Bay of Bengal toward India’s east coast. At 1130 IST on October 27, it was centered near 16.2°N and 83.7°E. This placed it about 170 km south-southeast of Visakhapatnam and 180 km east-southeast of Kakinada.

The storm was moving west-northwest at about 20 kmph during the previous six hours. The India Meteorological Department expected it to turn northwestward and cross the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam. The forecast placed the crossing close to Yanam.

Arnab was expected to reach the coast by the forenoon of October 28 as a very severe cyclonic storm. Forecast winds were 125-135 kmph, with gusts up to 150 kmph. These details explain why Andhra Pradesh, Yanam, and nearby Odisha began evacuations and emergency preparations.

02

What does it mean for a cyclone to make landfall?

When a cyclone makes landfall, its center crosses the coastline from the ocean onto land. Forecasters use this term to mark the storm’s main coastal crossing, not simply the first rain or wind felt on shore. Landfall is important because it identifies where the storm’s core is expected to affect people most directly.

For Arnab, the India Meteorological Department forecast a crossing between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, close to Yanam. It expected the system to arrive as a very severe cyclonic storm, with sustained winds of 125-135 kmph and gusts up to 150 kmph. Coastal districts therefore moved people and secured boats.

After landfall, a cyclone can still produce dangerous rain and winds inland. However, the storm’s exact effects vary with its track, speed, rainfall, and local geography. The article reports preparations in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, while Chhattisgarh officials remained on high alert.

03

How large and powerful is Arnab, in terms of its forecast wind speeds, gusts, movement speed, and the number of people being prepared or evacuated?

Arnab was classified as a very severe cyclonic storm. The forecast gave it maximum sustained winds of 125-135 kmph, with gusts reaching 150 kmph near landfall. That wind strength can damage structures, uproot trees, and make travel dangerous, which explains the large emergency response.

The storm moved west-northwest at 20 kmph during one six-hour period. Another IMD update recorded movement at 18 kmph over the previous six hours. Andhra Pradesh sent continuous cyclone alerts to mobile phones of 2.70 crore people across 18 districts and secured more than 30,000 fishing boats.

Preparation covered both evacuation and medical support. Odisha aimed to move around 48,000 people, while Andhra Pradesh established 2,131 cyclone shelters, deployed 1,087 medical teams, and prepared 1,274 ambulances. These figures show the storm’s broad expected reach and the scale of planning.

04

What dangers can heavy rain, storm winds, and coastal flooding from Arnab create for people, homes, transport, and essential services?

Heavy rain can flood low-lying areas, homes, roads, and fields. Storm winds can damage roofs, trees, boats, power lines, and other property. Near the coast, high water and waves can worsen flooding, threaten people in exposed settlements, and make rescue work difficult. These are general cyclone hazards; the article specifically reports strong winds, heavy rain, and possible loss of life and property.

Arnab’s expected winds were 125-135 kmph, with gusts up to 150 kmph. The article says strong winds had already begun in Visakhapatnam and Kakinada, while Srikakulam faced expected heavy rain and strong winds. Such conditions can make roads unsafe, delay travel, and isolate communities.

Essential services may also be disrupted. That is why Andhra Pradesh prepared emergency beds, ambulances, medical teams, food, drinking water, and relief camps. Officials also secured fishing boats and advised residents to stay indoors. Odisha began moving people from several districts to safer locations.

05

How do the India Meteorological Department, Doppler weather radars, state governments, shelters, and emergency teams work together during a cyclone?

Cyclone response works as a chain. The India Meteorological Department monitors the storm, predicts its track, estimates wind and rain, and issues warnings. That information helps state governments decide where to evacuate people and how many emergency resources to prepare. Accurate warnings matter because conditions can change quickly.

Arnab was under continuous surveillance by Doppler Weather Radars at Visakhapatnam and Machilipatnam. Andhra Pradesh used the forecasts to set up 2,131 shelters, send alerts to 2.70 crore people, secure more than 30,000 fishing boats, and deploy medical teams. Officials also prepared beds, ambulances, food, and drinking water.

Odisha moved people from exposed districts, while Chhattisgarh placed officials on high alert. Shelters provide safer locations during dangerous weather. Emergency teams support treatment and rescue. Together, monitoring, forecasts, government decisions, public communication, and local services reduce exposure and help communities respond.

06

Why are Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Yanam, and nearby inland states such as Chhattisgarh likely to experience different effects from the same storm?

A cyclone does not affect every place equally. Areas near the forecast landfall can face the strongest winds, rain, and coastal hazards. Places farther away may receive heavy rain or strong winds without experiencing the storm’s core. Local exposure also depends on whether communities are coastal, low-lying, or inland. These are established cyclone effects.

Arnab was expected to cross between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, close to Yanam. Andhra Pradesh therefore prepared for strong winds and heavy rain in its north coastal districts. Odisha expected heavy rain and strong winds, and planned evacuations in Gajapati, Nabarangpur, Malkangiri, Ganjam, Koraput, Rayagada, Kalahandi, and Nuapada.

Chhattisgarh is inland, so its effects were expected mainly through rain and weather changes after or around the storm’s coastal passage. The IMD also forecast rain in Jharkhand, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala, and other regions. The storm’s size, track, and weakening determine each area’s risk.

07

How do tropical cyclones form over warm ocean water, and why do they usually weaken after moving over land?

Tropical cyclones form when warm ocean water supplies heat and moisture to the atmosphere. Moist air rises, lowering pressure near the surface. More air moves inward, and Earth’s rotation helps organize the system into a spinning circulation. If the ocean remains warm and winds aloft do not disrupt the storm, it can strengthen.

The article describes Arnab over the west-central Bay of Bengal and classifies it as a very severe cyclonic storm. It also reports continuous radar surveillance and forecasts of 125-135 kmph sustained winds, with gusts up to 150 kmph. These observations show a powerful, organized system approaching the coast.

After landfall, a cyclone usually weakens because it is cut off from warm ocean water. Land also creates greater friction and can disrupt the storm’s circulation. It may still produce heavy rain and damaging winds inland. Arnab’s forecast track therefore mattered beyond the coastline, including for Odisha and Chhattisgarh.

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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