Cyclone ‘Murasu’ forms over Bay of Bengal, southern Odisha on high alert

Cyclone Murasu is forecast to make landfall on the Andhra Pradesh coast, between Nellore and Narsapur, by the morning of November 3. Landfall is when a cyclone’s centre moves onto the coast. Its timing and location matter because coastal districts may face powerful winds, heavy rain, and difficult travel conditions.

The India Meteorological Department expects Murasu to become a very severe cyclonic storm before crossing the coast. It forecasts winds of 100–110 kmph, with gusts reaching 120 kmph. Odisha will not be the landfall location, but the storm’s influence is expected to bring rain to the State’s southern region.

Rain is expected in Odisha from November 2. The intensity should increase on November 3 and November 4. These forecasts have prompted a high alert, evacuation orders for vulnerable areas, and stronger preparedness by the Odisha government.

A tropical cyclone is a large, rotating low-pressure storm that forms over warm tropical or subtropical ocean water. It can produce strong winds, intense rain, and dangerous coastal conditions. The classification matters because rising strength usually means greater risks to people, buildings, transport, and agriculture.

“Deep depression” describes a stronger organized low-pressure system than an ordinary depression. If it intensifies further, it can become a cyclonic storm and then reach higher categories. In this case, the deep depression over the Bay of Bengal intensified into Cyclone Murasu. The IMD expects it to become a very severe cyclonic storm.

These terms track the storm’s development rather than naming separate weather events. Murasu’s forecast wind speed is 100–110 kmph, with gusts up to 120 kmph. That expected increase explains Odisha’s high alert, evacuation orders, and preparations before November 3.

The IMD forecasts Murasu’s winds at 100–110 kmph as it crosses the Andhra Pradesh coast. It also expects gusts up to 120 kmph. These figures show that the storm can exert powerful force on trees, roofs, signs, power lines, boats, and other exposed objects.

The range of 100–110 kmph describes the forecast wind speed during the cyclone’s crossing. “Gusting to 120 kmph” means short-lived bursts may be faster than the main wind. Gusts can arrive suddenly and make conditions more dangerous, even when the average or sustained wind remains lower.

The forecast is one reason officials are preparing before landfall. Odisha has announced a high alert in its southern region and ordered evacuations from low-lying areas and hilly terrain. The same storm is also expected to increase rainfall in Odisha on November 3 and 4, adding another hazard alongside the wind.

People in low-lying areas are being moved because cyclone rainfall and coastal conditions can make water rise quickly. Homes, roads, and services in such places may become difficult or unsafe to reach. Evacuating early gives residents time to reach safer locations before winds and rain disrupt movement.

Hilly terrain faces a different but related danger. Heavy rain can weaken slopes and trigger landslides, while strong winds can bring down trees, branches, roofs, and power lines. Murasu is forecast to produce winds of 100–110 kmph, with gusts up to 120 kmph. Odisha is also expected to receive increasingly intense rain on November 3 and 4.

The Odisha government has ordered evacuations from both low-lying areas and hilly terrain. This action reflects the different risks created by the same cyclone. It also supports emergency planning in southern Odisha, where officials have announced a high alert before the storm’s expected landfall.

The India Meteorological Department provides the scientific monitoring and forecasts. Its bulletin identified Murasu over the Bay of Bengal, predicted intensification, and gave a likely landfall zone and timing. It also forecast wind speeds and rainfall effects, giving officials information needed for decisions.

The Odisha government acts on those warnings. Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said a high alert had been announced in the southern region. The government also ordered evacuations from low-lying areas and hilly terrain. These steps aim to move people away from places where flooding, landslides, strong winds, or falling debris could threaten lives.

Together, the two roles connect forecasting with protection. The IMD describes what the cyclone may do, while the State government organizes the response. The current plan covers preparation before November 3 landfall and rainfall expected in Odisha from November 2, becoming more intense on November 3 and 4.

In general, the Bay of Bengal is vulnerable to powerful tropical cyclones because it is a warm tropical ocean basin. Warm seawater supplies energy to developing storms. The basin also borders broad, low-lying coastal areas, including parts of eastern India and Bangladesh, where flooding and storm impacts can affect many people.

Cyclones over the Bay can strengthen as they pass over sufficiently warm water. Their winds push seawater toward the coast, while heavy rain can overwhelm rivers and drainage. The basin’s shape can also help concentrate water near shore during a storm. These general mechanisms explain why warnings and evacuations matter when a cyclone approaches.

The article specifically reports that Murasu formed over the Bay of Bengal and is expected to reach the Andhra Pradesh coast. It does not detail the basin’s physical causes of vulnerability. In this case, the forecast of 100–110 kmph winds, gusts to 120 kmph, and rain in Odisha has led to advance preparations.

Warm ocean water fuels a tropical cyclone by adding heat and moisture to air near the surface. That moist air rises in the storm’s low-pressure centre. As water vapour cools higher in the atmosphere, it releases heat. This heat helps air rise further and lowers pressure, drawing more air inward near the surface.

The inward-moving air begins rotating because of Earth’s rotation. Rising air, condensation, and falling pressure can reinforce one another. More inflowing air increases the circulation, while continued access to warm water supplies additional moisture and heat. The process can make winds stronger, provided the storm is not disrupted by unfavorable conditions.

The article reports that Murasu intensified from a deep depression into a cyclonic storm over the Bay of Bengal. The IMD forecasts further intensification into a very severe cyclonic storm, with winds of 100–110 kmph and gusts to 120 kmph. Those forecasts explain the early warnings and evacuations.