Cyclone Murasu: Heavy rain alerts in five states, Chennai schools closed

Cyclone Murasu was a powerful tropical storm over the Bay of Bengal. It intensified into a severe cyclonic storm on Monday. That mattered because the system threatened several states with dangerous winds, extreme rain, flooding, power damage, and travel disruption.

In the article, Murasu was forecast to reach land with winds of 100 to 110 km per hour. Gusts could reach 120 km per hour. In the North Indian Ocean classification used by the India Meteorological Department, a severe cyclonic storm has sustained winds of about 89 to 117 km per hour.

The storm triggered heavy-rain alerts in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Chhattisgarh. Authorities closed schools and colleges in Chennai and Tiruvallur. The storm also threatened electricity networks and cancelled flights. Its landfall near Ongole was expected between Monday midnight and Tuesday morning.

Landfall is the point when a cyclone’s centre crosses from the sea onto the coast. Knowing its likely location and timing helps officials move people, protect infrastructure, adjust transport, and issue local warnings. Murasu’s projected path placed coastal Andhra Pradesh directly in danger.

The weather agency expected the storm to make landfall near Ongole between midnight on Monday and Tuesday morning. At 8.30 am on Monday, it was 180 kilometres northeast of Chennai and 160 kilometres east-southeast of Nellore. These positions showed the storm was close to the southeastern coast.

The forecast called for winds of 100 to 110 kilometres per hour, with gusts up to 120 kilometres per hour. Such winds can damage power systems and buildings, especially alongside intense rain. The timing also explained the emergency closures and transport cancellations before landfall.

Murasu’s impact extended well beyond its expected landfall point. Heavy-rain alerts covered Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Chhattisgarh. This broad warning area mattered because cyclone effects can spread far from the centre through rain bands, strong winds, and disrupted transport and power.

Coastal Andhra Pradesh faced forecasts of extremely heavy rainfall on Monday and Tuesday, followed by heavy rain on Wednesday. Tamil Nadu could receive heavy to very heavy rain on Monday and Tuesday. Southern Odisha was forecast to get rain at many places, including heavy to very heavy rain in some areas on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The storm’s forecast winds were 100 to 110 kilometres per hour, gusting to 120. The combination of wide rainfall coverage and powerful winds created risks for homes, roads, electricity lines, schools, and flights across several states. Alerts therefore covered multiple days.

A severe cyclone can disrupt daily life in several ways at once. Extreme rain can flood roads and homes, while strong winds can damage buildings, trees, power lines, and poles. Schools close to keep students and staff off dangerous roads. Flights are cancelled when weather makes airport operations and routes unsafe.

The article gives a clear example from Andhra Pradesh. Officials said 6,000 to 8,000 electricity poles might be damaged, threatening power supplies. The chief minister ordered efforts to restore electricity within 48 hours if the system was affected. In Chennai and Tiruvallur, authorities closed schools and colleges on Monday.

Air travel was also hit. Ten IndiGo flights from Vijayawada were cancelled, and eleven flights to and from Chennai were cancelled. Flights to and from Visakhapatnam were impacted. These measures reduced exposure while teams prepared to repair damage and restore essential services.

Authorities closed schools, cancelled flights, and coordinated emergency teams to reduce danger before Murasu reached the coast. Forecasts showed heavy to extremely heavy rain and winds up to 120 kilometres per hour. Preventive action can keep people off flooded roads, away from exposed buildings, and out of disrupted transport systems.

Chennai and Tiruvallur ordered schools and colleges closed on Monday because of the heavy-rain forecast. Ten IndiGo flights from Vijayawada and eleven flights to and from Chennai were cancelled. Flights to and from Visakhapatnam were also impacted. These decisions reflected immediate safety and operating concerns.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu spoke with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay about coordinated action. Naidu requested people and machinery to restore damaged power systems. Officials estimated that 6,000 to 8,000 poles could be damaged and aimed to restore supply within 48 hours if disruption occurred.

Murasu arrived soon after another Bay of Bengal cyclone, Arnab. The close timing increased concern because communities and emergency services in Andhra Pradesh and nearby Odisha were dealing with recent storm damage. A second cyclone could add new rain, wind, and repair challenges before earlier problems were fully resolved.

Arnab had completed landfall in Andhra Pradesh on October 28. The article records three deaths and damage to 31 houses in Andhra Pradesh. In neighbouring Odisha, heavy rainfall triggered a landslide in Ganjam district on Friday, leaving 12 people missing.

Murasu was expected to make landfall near Ongole between Monday midnight and Tuesday morning. Unlike the article’s specific casualty and damage figures for Arnab, it presents Murasu mainly through forecasts and preparations. Those included school closures, flight cancellations, coordination between state governments, and plans to restore electricity within 48 hours if poles and power systems were damaged.

Tropical cyclones form over warm ocean water when heat causes moist air to rise. Rising air lowers pressure near the surface, drawing in more air. As that air rises and its water vapour condenses, it releases heat, adding energy to the storm. Earth’s rotation helps organize the system into a spinning circulation.

If the ocean remains warm and wind conditions allow the circulation to stay organized, the cyclone can intensify. Air rushes faster toward the low-pressure centre, producing strong rotating winds. Condensation builds tall clouds and spiral rain bands, which can deliver intense rainfall over large areas. The storm weakens after crossing land or losing access to warm water.

Murasu showed these effects through its severe classification, forecasts of 100 to 110 km per hour winds, and rainfall alerts across five states. Coastal Andhra Pradesh faced extremely heavy rain. This combination explains the risks to power lines, communities, schools, roads, and flights.