Live: Cyclone Murasu makes landfall over south coastal Andhra Pradesh

A cyclone makes landfall when its center crosses the coastline from the sea onto land. This is a major turning point because the storm’s strongest winds, rain, and pressure changes can begin affecting populated areas directly. Landfall does not mean the storm immediately disappears. Dangerous conditions can continue for hours as the system moves inland.

For Murasu, the India Meteorological Department said landfall was underway at 2:30 am on November 3. Its inner spiral band was entering south coastal Andhra Pradesh, while the wall cloud region was moving inland. These features showed that the storm’s central structure was crossing the coast.

The cyclone was expected to cross between Nellore and Narsapur, close to Ongole, within about three hours. It was forecast to remain a severe cyclonic storm, with winds of 100–110 kmph and gusts reaching 120 kmph. Rain, flooding, fallen trees, and power disruptions remained possible after landfall.

Cyclone Murasu began its landfall process over south coastal Andhra Pradesh at about 1 am on Tuesday, November 3. The timing matters because landfall marks the storm’s direct arrival over the coast, bringing its strongest winds and heaviest rain into vulnerable coastal districts.

At 2:30 am, the India Meteorological Department placed the cyclone about 30 km southeast of Ongole. It was also 50 km northeast of Kavali, 100 km north-northeast of Nellore, and 140 km southwest of Machilipatnam. The storm was moving north-northwestwards at 9 kmph.

The forecast placed the crossing between Nellore and Narsapur, near Ongole. The landfall process was continuing as the northern inner spiral band and wall cloud moved inland. Murasu was expected to cross within three hours as a severe cyclonic storm, with winds of 100–110 kmph and gusts up to 120 kmph.

Murasu was classified as a severe cyclonic storm during landfall. The India Meteorological Department forecast sustained winds of 100–110 kmph, with gusts reaching 120 kmph. Earlier forecasts said the system could intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm before crossing the Andhra Pradesh coast.

Its impacts were not limited to the landfall point. Heavy rainfall and strong winds were expected across parts of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Odisha. The cyclone’s outer rain bands were already bringing continuous rain to Puducherry and affecting North Tamil Nadu before the center crossed the coast.

The storm also disrupted transport. At least 11 flights to and from Chennai airport and 19 flights at Vijayawada airport were cancelled. Schools in Chennai were shut as a precaution, while authorities in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha accelerated evacuations in vulnerable areas. Doppler radars in Chennai and Machilipatnam monitored its movement.

A cyclone’s inner spiral bands are tightly curved bands of thunderstorms, heavy rain, and strong winds wrapped around its center. The wall cloud is the dense ring or region of towering clouds and intense weather surrounding the center. Together, they form the cyclone’s most organized and dangerous inner structure.

The India Meteorological Department reported that Murasu’s northern inner spiral band was entering south coastal Andhra Pradesh. It also said the wall cloud region was beginning to move inland. That movement matters because it shows that the cyclone’s central circulation, not merely its outer rain, is reaching land.

At 2:30 am, Murasu was about 30 km southeast of Ongole, and its landfall process was continuing. The storm was expected to cross near Ongole within three hours. Doppler Weather Radars in Chennai and Machilipatnam were tracking the cyclone as its core moved inland with winds of 100–110 kmph and gusts up to 120 kmph.

A severe cyclone can affect far more than the point where its center crosses land. Strong winds can damage buildings, trees, roads, and power lines. Heavy rain can flood communities and disrupt normal life. Along the coast, high tides and storm-driven waves can threaten homes, roads, and people in low-lying areas.

The article gives several concrete examples. Continuous rain affected Puducherry, while high-tide waves hit the coast in Visakhapatnam. Flights were cancelled at Chennai and Vijayawada airports, and schools in Chennai were closed. In Ongole, officials prepared to clear fallen trees, restore traffic, repair power infrastructure, and return electricity to Kothapatnam.

These impacts explain the emergency response. Authorities in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha expedited evacuations from vulnerable areas. People were urged to stay alert and cautious while the landfall continued. Even after crossing the coast, Murasu’s rain and winds could keep disrupting transport, electricity, and daily life as the storm moved inland.

Coastal evacuations matter because strong cyclones can create several dangers at the same time. Strong winds can damage buildings and trees. Heavy rain can flood streets and homes. High tides and storm-driven waves can push seawater inland, especially in low-lying communities. Together, these hazards can leave people with little safe time to respond.

Murasu showed this combined threat. High-tide waves were reported in Visakhapatnam, while continuous rain affected Puducherry. The storm was expected to bring winds of up to 120 kmph, and authorities in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha accelerated evacuations in vulnerable areas. These actions move people away from exposed coastlines before conditions become most dangerous.

Evacuation also protects emergency workers and keeps roads available for rescue and relief. The article describes officials preparing to clear fallen trees, restore traffic, repair power infrastructure, and return electricity. Coastal residents were urged to remain alert and cautious while Murasu’s landfall continued and its effects spread inland.

Tropical cyclones usually begin over warm ocean water. Heat from the sea adds moisture to the air, and that moist air rises in thunderstorms. As air pressure falls, more air moves inward near the surface. Earth’s rotation helps organize this flow into a rotating storm. Repeated thunderstorms can then build a large, powerful circulation.

The ocean acts as the cyclone’s continuing energy source. Warm water supports evaporation, while condensation inside clouds releases heat that strengthens rising air. This process can maintain or intensify the storm when atmospheric conditions are suitable. The source article does not explain how Murasu formed, so these are established facts about tropical cyclones generally.

After landfall, a cyclone usually weakens because it is cut off from warm ocean water. Land also creates greater surface friction and can disrupt the storm’s circulation. However, heavy rain and strong winds may continue inland. Murasu was expected to affect several states even as its core crossed Andhra Pradesh.