Cyclone Arnab weakens after landfall, rains lash Andhra Pradesh

Landfall means a cyclone’s centre crosses from the sea onto land. It is a critical stage because the storm can bring its strongest winds and heaviest rain to coastal communities. After landfall, its movement and impacts depend on the land and nearby weather conditions.

Cyclone Arnab crossed the coasts of Andhra Pradesh and Yanam in Puducherry. The process lasted six hours, from 2 am to 8 am, while maximum sustained winds reached 125 km per hour to 135 km per hour. The India Meteorological Department said the storm’s centre had moved entirely over land.

After completing landfall, Arnab weakened from a very severe cyclonic storm into a severe cyclonic storm. It was expected to move north-northwestwards during the next 48 hours and weaken further. Heavy rain, strong winds, damaged homes and uprooted trees continued to affect parts of the region.

Cyclone Arnab was powerful enough to be classified as a very severe cyclonic storm before landfall. Its maximum sustained wind speeds reached 125 km per hour to 135 km per hour. This strength explains the risk to homes, trees, electricity poles, transport and coastal communities.

Rainfall was also intense. Several parts of coastal Andhra Pradesh reported heavy to very heavy rain, and some areas recorded more than 200 mm. Such rainfall can quickly disrupt roads, strand people and complicate rescue and restoration work, especially while strong winds are still present.

Arnab weakened into a severe cyclonic storm after completing landfall. The India Meteorological Department expected it to weaken into a cyclonic storm within six hours, then into a deep depression during the following six hours. Even while weakening, the storm continued to threaten the region with rain and wind.

The cyclone disrupted transport and damaged local infrastructure. IndiGo said flights to and from Rajahmundry, Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam would remain impacted, while Air India warned that Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam operations might be affected. At least 64 trains scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday were cancelled.

Strong winds uprooted several trees and electricity poles. Houses were damaged in Yanam, and National Disaster Response Force teams worked to remove debris. In Andhra Pradesh, stranded people were rescued. These effects show how a cyclone can interrupt travel, power supplies, housing and everyday movement at the same time.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu directed officials to clear uprooted trees and restore power after conditions improved. The transport cancellations and airport warnings were precautionary measures designed to reduce exposure while rain, wind and debris made travel dangerous. No casualties had been reported at the time of the report.

A cyclone usually weakens after moving over land because it loses access to the warm ocean water that helps sustain its circulation. Land also creates more friction and disrupts the storm’s organised winds. Arnab therefore weakened from a very severe cyclonic storm to a severe cyclonic storm after landfall.

The phrase “practically stationary” described the storm’s movement, not its strength. On Wednesday morning, the India Meteorological Department said Arnab remained over nearly the same region for three hours. Its centre was about 30 km east of Narsapur, 45 km south-southwest of Yanam and 70 km south-southwest of Kakinada.

A slow-moving or stationary storm can keep heavy rain and strong winds over one area for longer. The department expected Arnab to move north-northwestwards during the next 48 hours and weaken gradually, first into a cyclonic storm and then a deep depression.

Precautions are taken before casualties occur because a severe cyclone can suddenly make travel, fishing and outdoor activity dangerous. Heavy rain, sustained winds, flooding risks, debris and damaged power lines can threaten people even when no deaths or injuries have yet been reported.

At least 64 trains were cancelled on Tuesday and Wednesday to avoid disruptions. Odisha intensified preparedness by closing schools and restricting fishing because the storm was likely to bring heavy sustained winds. Flights were also affected at several Andhra Pradesh airports, showing that transport systems were being protected from worsening weather.

The decisions reduced the number of people exposed to dangerous conditions. National Disaster Response Force teams, State Disaster Response Force teams and Odisha’s disaster rapid action force were deployed. The article reported no casualties so far, but trees, poles and houses had already been damaged, and stranded people required rescue.

The India Meteorological Department reduces danger by monitoring the cyclone, reporting its location and strength, and forecasting its likely path and weakening. Its updates help officials, transport operators and residents decide when to close facilities, cancel services or move people to safety.

Disaster-response teams handle urgent physical risks. The National Disaster Response Force deployed 31 teams across likely affected states, including 12 in Andhra Pradesh and nine in Odisha. Teams removed debris after trees and electricity poles fell, while stranded people were rescued. State response teams added further local capacity.

Local governments turn warnings into action. Andhra Pradesh officials were directed to clear trees and restore power after conditions improved. Odisha closed schools and restricted fishing. Airlines and rail authorities adjusted operations. Together, forecasting, field response and local decisions limit exposure, speed rescue and support recovery, even when a storm still causes damage.

A tropical cyclone is a large, rotating storm that forms over warm tropical ocean water around a centre of low pressure. The source article does not explain how cyclones form, so this explanation uses established meteorological knowledge. The process begins when warm water adds moisture and heat to the air above it.

Warm, moist air rises and lowers pressure near the surface. More air then flows inward, rises and releases heat as water vapour condenses into clouds. This released heat strengthens the rising motion. Earth’s rotation turns the inward-moving winds, helping create the cyclone’s organised circulation rather than a straight flow.

A cyclone can strengthen while it remains over sufficiently warm water and has favourable atmospheric conditions. After moving over land, it usually weakens because it loses its ocean energy source and encounters friction. Arnab followed that broad pattern, weakening after its landfall over Andhra Pradesh and Yanam.