Cyclone Arnab landfall news LIVE: Trees uprooted, roads submerged in Andhra Pradesh; ‘stay indoors’ warning issued

A cyclone makes landfall when its circulation moves across a coastline and reaches land. This is different from simply passing near the shore. Landfall matters because the storm’s winds, rain, and coastal flooding threats begin affecting communities directly. Conditions can worsen quickly around the landfall zone.

For Cyclone Arnab, the report said landfall occurred on the Andhra Pradesh coast between Kakinada and Yanam in Puducherry. The IMD also described the expected crossing area as between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, close to the south of Yanam. The cyclone had sustained winds of 125 to 135 kmph, with gusts up to 150 kmph.

After landfall, the storm can weaken as it moves over land, but danger does not end immediately. Heavy rain can cause waterlogging, while powerful winds can uproot trees and damage power lines. Authorities therefore told residents to stay indoors until conditions improved and sent emergency teams to clear blocked roads and respond to infrastructure damage.

Cyclone Arnab was classified in the report as a very severe cyclonic storm during its landfall process. Its maximum sustained winds reached 125 to 135 kmph, and gusts reached 150 kmph. These speeds are strong enough to damage trees, power lines, roads, and other exposed infrastructure.

Rainfall was also extreme. The IMD recorded more than 200 mm at several locations in Anakapalli and Visakhapatnam districts between 8:30 am on October 27 and 3 am on October 28. Heavy rain and strong winds were also reported in other parts of Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal.

The combination of wind and rain created multiple hazards at once. Trees fell across roads, power lines snapped in Kakinada, and waterlogging required emergency response. The rainfall figures show why red alerts were issued and why residents were told to remain indoors while the landfall process continued.

Cyclone Arnab affected broad areas rather than only the point where it crossed the coast. The report described destructive winds and heavy rain across coastal Andhra Pradesh, with damage to roads, trees, power lines, and essential infrastructure. Heavy rain and strong winds were also reported in parts of West Bengal.

The cyclone made landfall between Kakinada and Yanam in Puducherry early on Wednesday. The IMD identified the landfall zone between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, close to the south of Yanam. Kakinada saw uprooted trees and snapped power lines. In Visakhapatnam, fallen trees blocked Beach Road and Seethammadhara.

Odisha was also placed under several levels of weather warning. Extremely heavy rain was forecast in districts including Gajapati, Ganjam, Rayagada, Koraput, Nabarangpur, and Malkangiri. Orange and yellow warnings covered additional districts, showing that the cyclone’s wider circulation could affect areas beyond the immediate landfall site.

A storm surge is an abnormal rise of seawater pushed toward the coast by a powerful storm. If it rises 1.5 to 2.5 metres above the astronomical tide, seawater can move into low-lying coastal areas. The danger becomes greater when the surge arrives alongside heavy rain and already rising floodwater.

The IMD warned that Cyclone Arnab could produce a surge of 1.5 to 2.5 metres above the astronomical tide. It highlighted low-lying areas, particularly around Kakinada and Yanam. Such flooding can cover roads, enter homes, disrupt transport, and damage power and other essential infrastructure.

The article reported waterlogging, blocked roads, fallen trees, and emergency teams working in vulnerable areas. A storm surge can make those problems more severe by adding seawater to rainfall runoff. Residents were therefore told to stay indoors, while authorities prepared to remove debris, clear roads, and respond to damage.

People were told to stay indoors because Cyclone Arnab brought destructive winds, heavy rain, and possible flooding. Outside, people could be struck by falling branches, trees, signs, or other debris. Flooded roads also make travel dangerous and can hide hazards beneath the water.

The article reported uprooted trees and snapped power lines in Kakinada. Fallen trees blocked Beach Road and Seethammadhara in Visakhapatnam. These examples show why authorities specifically warned residents to avoid electric poles, hoardings, and old trees. Strong winds can bring these structures or objects down without much warning.

Staying indoors reduces exposure while the storm passes. It also helps emergency workers clear roads and respond to damage without additional people moving through dangerous areas. Authorities deployed teams to tackle waterlogging, remove fallen trees, clear blocked roads, and address damage to essential infrastructure after conditions allowed.

The IMD’s warning colours communicate the expected severity of weather and the level of danger for affected districts. In this report, red warnings covered districts facing extremely heavy rain, thunderstorms, and strong surface winds. Orange warnings indicated heavy to very heavy rain with thunderstorms and powerful winds. Yellow warnings covered districts where isolated heavy rain, thunderstorms, and lesser winds were possible.

In Andhra Pradesh, a red alert covered Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli, Kakinada, East Godavari, and Eluru. In Odisha, red-level conditions were forecast for several southern districts. Orange and yellow warnings covered wider groups of districts.

These warnings help authorities and residents prepare for different levels of disruption. The forecasts included winds as high as 60 to 80 kmph, with gusts up to 90 kmph in some Odisha districts. Officials could use the alerts to deploy response teams, while residents could avoid travel and remain indoors.

The article focuses on Cyclone Arnab’s landfall and impacts, not how tropical cyclones form. Generally, a tropical cyclone begins over warm ocean water when moist air rises and creates lower pressure near the surface. Surrounding air moves toward that low-pressure area, and Earth’s rotation helps organize the circulation.

Warm oceans provide energy through evaporation. Water vapour rises with the warm air, then releases heat when it condenses into clouds and rain. That heat makes the air rise further, lowering pressure and drawing in more moist air. If conditions remain favourable, the circulation can become more organized and the storm can strengthen.

A cyclone loses its main ocean energy source after moving over land or cooler water, although dangerous rain and winds can continue. Arnab’s case shows why preparation matters before landfall: the storm had winds of 125 to 135 kmph, gusts to 150 kmph, and rainfall above 200 mm in several locations.