Very severe cyclonic storm ‘Arnab’ begins landfall near Narsapur; Vizag battered by rain

Landfall is the stage when a tropical cyclone crosses the coastline and moves over land. It matters because the centre’s position helps officials identify the most exposed areas and assess changing winds, rain, and surge. It is not always possible to name one exact point immediately.

A cyclone is a very large rotating system, with winds and rain extending far beyond its centre. As the system moves across the coast, different parts of its circulation pass over land at different times. The India Meteorological Department said Arnab’s landfall process could continue for a long time and that winds would likely weaken after four hours.

Arnab began its landfall process near Narsapur at about 1.30 a.m. on October 28, 2026. The IMD said it could give a tentative landfall point only after the process ended. This delay matters for warnings, evacuations, and emergency work in coastal districts.

Arnab was powerful enough to produce destructive coastal winds, a major storm-surge threat, and extreme rainfall. Near its centre, winds were reported at 125–135 kmph, with gusts reaching 150 kmph. The IMD expected those winds to weaken after about four hours.

The storm surge expected over Kakinada and Yanam was 1.5 to 2.5 metres. Rainfall was also intense across northern Andhra Pradesh. Kannuripalem in Anakapalli district recorded 231.5 mm between 8.30 a.m. on October 27 and 1 a.m. on October 28. The 16th Police Battalion area recorded 223.91 mm.

The rainfall covered a wide area. Twelve stations in Visakhapatnam and Anakapalli districts recorded more than 200 mm. Another 188 stations across seven districts recorded more than 100 mm during the same period. These figures show that impacts extended well beyond the reported landfall area.

A cyclone’s landfall location refers to where its centre crosses the coastline. During the crossing, that centre can still be difficult to track precisely. The storm’s winds, rain, and cloud cover also stretch across a wide area, so conditions at one town do not automatically reveal the centre’s exact position.

Arnab began its landfall process near Narsapur at about 1.30 a.m. The IMD experts said it was too early to indicate the exact location. They explained that the process might continue for a long time and that a tentative point could be identified only after the process was over.

Kakinada had initially been indicated as a possible landfall point. Winds strengthened there around 1.30 a.m., but the sea remained calm for more than an hour before the winds gained strength. The uncertainty therefore reflected an unfinished, evolving crossing, not the absence of serious danger.

A storm surge is a temporary rise in sea level caused mainly by a cyclone’s strong winds pushing seawater toward the coast. It matters because the surge can arrive alongside large waves and heavy rain. Even areas that are not directly under the cyclone’s centre may face flooding when coastal water moves inland.

The IMD expected a high surge of 1.5 to 2.5 metres over Kakinada and Yanam. In low-lying areas, that extra water can spread across roads, homes, fields, and other low ground. If drainage is poor or rainfall is heavy, water can remain or combine with rainwater, increasing inundation.

The article reports that low-lying areas in both regions faced the threat of inundation. At Uppada, giant waves pushed stone boulders onto a road. The warning meant residents and relief camps had to prepare for coastal water, waves, and worsening access conditions.

Landfall marks the cyclone’s centre crossing the coast, not the boundary of all its weather. A large cyclone can carry rainbands and strong winds far from its centre. As those bands move over different districts, they can produce intense rainfall even when the centre is elsewhere. This is why landfall and heaviest rain may occur in different locations.

Arnab began landfall near Narsapur in West Godavari district, while northern districts continued to receive relentless rain. Between October 27 and 1 a.m. on October 28, Kannuripalem recorded 231.5 mm. Visakhapatnam’s 16th Police Battalion area recorded 223.91 mm, and Chemalapalle recorded 220.04 mm.

Twelve stations in Visakhapatnam and Anakapalli recorded more than 200 mm. In total, 188 stations across seven districts recorded more than 100 mm. The APSDMA therefore issued a heavy-rainfall and strong-winds alert for eight districts on October 28.

Cyclone hazards can damage both buildings and essential connections between communities. Strong winds can break trees, roofs, and weak structures. Waves and surge can move rocks and seawater onto roads. Heavy rain can flood low-lying areas, disrupt travel, and make rescue and relief work harder.

Arnab’s effects showed this combination clearly. In Uppada, some thatched houses facing the sea reportedly collapsed, although their residents were safe in relief camps. In Kakinada, boats tied to trees were washed into a creek. Giant waves moved stone boulders onto a road, while scores of coconut trees fell in Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district.

NDRF personnel were removing fallen trees, and no human loss had been reported in Kakinada, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema, and West Godavari districts. Yet the damage risk remained serious because strong winds, surge, waves, and rain could continue affecting homes, transport, fishing, and access to communities.

Tropical cyclones form over warm oceans when heat and moisture rise into the atmosphere and help build a powerful rotating storm. As moist air rises, it can release heat, strengthening the storm’s circulation. Earth’s rotation helps the system spin. This explanation uses established meteorological knowledge; the source article does not describe Arnab’s formation.

A cyclone usually weakens after moving over land because it is cut off from the warm ocean surface that supplies moisture and energy. Land also creates more friction than water, slowing the circulation. Mountains and uneven terrain can disrupt the storm further. If the centre remains near the coast, weakening may be slower than after a deep inland move.

For Arnab, the IMD said wind intensity was likely to decrease after four hours. The article does not state how Arnab formed or exactly how long it would remain strong over land. It does show that hazards continued during the landfall process, including surge risk and extreme rainfall.