Cyclone Arnab stalls close to India's east coast

A cyclone makes landfall when its circulation moves onto land, usually bringing its strongest winds and heaviest rain close to the coast. It matters because landfall can damage buildings, disrupt services, and push seawater inland. Arnab began making landfall earlier than expected, according to authorities.

However, the storm’s centre remained over the Bay of Bengal while its edge had moved onto land. The India Meteorological Department therefore described Arnab as “practically stationary.” A cyclone can continue affecting coastal areas while its centre lingers offshore. Its winds, rain, and coastal water rise may keep striking the same places.

Authorities expected landfall to last two more hours. More than 180,000 people had already been evacuated from Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. Power supplies were disrupted and trees were uprooted, but no deaths were reported in either state at that time.

Arnab was classified by the India Meteorological Department as a very severe cyclonic storm. That is the third-highest category on the department’s scale. Forecast sustained winds were 115kmh to 125kmh, with gusts of up to 140kmh. These figures show why authorities treated the cyclone as a major danger to coastal communities.

The storm threatened India’s eastern states of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. Before Arnab arrived, authorities evacuated more than 180,000 people from those states. Evacuation moves people away from exposed homes and low-lying areas before winds, rain, and seawater become most dangerous.

The early effects included disrupted power supplies and uprooted trees. Some schools closed, while train and flight services were cancelled. Operations at three Andhra Pradesh airports were suspended. Despite these disruptions, no loss of life had been reported in either state when the report was issued.

When a cyclone stalls near a coast, its hazards can persist over the same communities. Strong winds may continue damaging trees, power lines, buildings, and transport links. Heavy rain can also keep falling, increasing the chance of waterlogging and flooding. The longer the system remains nearby, the longer people face dangerous conditions.

Arnab’s centre stayed over the Bay of Bengal while its edge moved onto land. Authorities forecast winds of 115kmh to 125kmh and gusts up to 140kmh. They also warned that a storm surge 1m to 1.5m above the normal tide could inundate low-lying areas of Andhra Pradesh. The offshore centre helped keep the cyclone close to the coast.

The cyclone had already disrupted power supplies and uprooted trees. Schools closed, and some train and flight services were cancelled. Evacuations reduced immediate danger, while officials continued monitoring the storm as landfall was expected to last two more hours.

A storm surge is a temporary rise in coastal water above the normal tide, driven mainly by a powerful storm’s winds and low pressure. It matters because seawater can move inland, especially where land is low and drainage is limited. Surge flooding can threaten homes, roads, farms, and essential services.

Authorities forecast a surge of 1m to 1.5m above the normal tide in Andhra Pradesh. That extra height would place seawater well above the usual shoreline level. In low-lying areas, it could inundate land even if rainfall alone did not cause flooding. The risk would be greater while Arnab’s strong winds persisted near the coast.

The warning was issued as Arnab’s centre remained over the Bay of Bengal and the cyclone was practically stationary. More than 180,000 people had been evacuated from Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. No deaths had been reported, but power supplies were disrupted and trees were uprooted.

Indian authorities reduced danger by moving people away from exposed areas before Arnab arrived. More than 180,000 people were evacuated from Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. Officials also issued storm warnings, monitored the cyclone, and prepared communities for strong winds and coastal flooding. No loss of life had been reported in either state at the time.

Emergency measures affected everyday services. Operations at three Andhra Pradesh airports were suspended by the civil aviation ministry. Some schools closed, while some train and flight services were cancelled. These restrictions limited travel while dangerous conditions threatened roads, railways, airports, and coastal communities.

The cyclone still disrupted power supplies and uprooted trees. Forecast winds reached 115kmh to 125kmh, with gusts up to 140kmh. A storm surge of 1m to 1.5m above normal tide also threatened low-lying Andhra Pradesh. Evacuation remained the clearest protection for people in vulnerable areas.

The Bay of Bengal is especially dangerous because it is a broad, warm tropical sea that supports cyclone development and lies beside densely populated, low-lying coasts. The article identifies it as a major region for tropical cyclones and notes that it has spawned deadly storms on India’s east coast. The 1999 Odisha super cyclone killed nearly 10,000 people.

A cyclone can also affect places far from its centre. Arnab was expected to carry large amounts of moist air toward the Himalayan region. In Nepal, authorities warned tourists that the storm could trigger torrential downpours, snowstorms, and avalanches in high-altitude areas. These hazards can occur even when the cyclone itself is no longer near the coast.

Nepal’s warning covered Thursday night through Saturday. This shows why cyclone impacts can cross national borders and change with terrain. Coastal communities faced wind and surge risks, while Himalayan areas faced possible rain, snow, and avalanche hazards.

Tropical cyclones form when warm ocean water adds heat and moisture to rising air. As air rises, pressure falls near the surface, drawing in more air and creating a rotating storm system. Warm water can supply energy for strengthening, while cooler water or land usually removes that energy and weakens the system. This is general meteorological knowledge beyond the article.

Their movement depends on surrounding winds and larger weather patterns. Earth’s rotation helps organize the circulation, while nearby high- and low-pressure systems can steer the storm. Interaction with land, dry air, or other weather systems can also change its strength or path. These mechanisms explain why a cyclone may stall, turn, strengthen, or weaken.

The article states that Arnab formed over the Bay of Bengal and became a very severe cyclonic storm. It does not identify the exact factors controlling Arnab’s direction or intensity. It reports that the cyclone was practically stationary as its centre remained offshore.