Cyclone Murasu brings deluge to parched Prakasam district

Cyclone Murasu crossed the Andhra Pradesh coast near Kothapatnam, about 20 kilometres from Ongole, at 1 a.m. on November 3. Its arrival brought very heavy overnight rain to Prakasam and Bapatla districts. The crossing mattered because it combined intense rainfall with gale-force winds and coastal flooding threats.

The heaviest reported rain fell in central and southern coastal Andhra Pradesh. Naguluppalapadu received 198.01 millimetres, while Kothapatnam recorded 182.25 millimetres. Bapatla, Chirala, Ongole, and nearby areas also received more than 100 millimetres. The storm’s landfall and movement close to populated coastal areas produced these concentrated impacts.

Prakasam’s rainfall deficit improved from slightly above 64% on November 2 to 58.6% after one night. Gale winds continued to threaten Prakasam and SPSR Nellore. A surge warning covered low-lying parts of Bapatla and Krishna, while red and orange alerts affected several other districts.

In India’s weather classification, a severe cyclonic storm has sustained winds of about 89–117 kmph. It is stronger than a cyclonic storm but weaker than a very severe cyclonic storm. Such storms can damage buildings, uproot trees, disrupt transport, and produce dangerous coastal flooding.

Landfall is the process in which the storm’s centre crosses from ocean to land. It does not mean rain begins only at that moment. Outer rainbands and strong winds can affect the coast before landfall, while the landfall zone often receives the most intense conditions. Murasu crossed near Kothapatnam around 1 a.m.

The article reported highway vehicles being stopped near Ongole as winds reached 90–100 kmph. It also said the landfall process could continue until 9 a.m. Afterward, the storm was expected to move north-northwest, weaken into a cyclonic storm by noon, and become a deep depression by midnight.

The most striking rainfall totals came from Prakasam district. Naguluppalapadu recorded 198.01 millimetres, the highest figure listed by the Directorate of Economics and Statistics. Kothapatnam followed with 182.25 millimetres. These totals show how quickly a cyclone can deliver an enormous amount of rain over a small area.

The measurements were recorded by 6 a.m. after weather stations received around 200 millimetres within six hours as the storm moved closer to land. Other high totals included 128.53 millimetres at the agricultural university area in Bapatla, 124.1 millimetres at Chirala, and 119.75 millimetres in Bapatla town.

Prakasam had a rainfall deficit of slightly more than 64% on November 2. After the overnight downpour, its overall deficit narrowed to 58.6%. The change shows that one major weather event can substantially alter seasonal rainfall statistics, even though it does not remove the broader deficit.

The cyclone created several immediate hazards at once. Gale winds could injure people, damage structures, uproot trees, and scatter debris. Very heavy rain could overwhelm drainage, reduce visibility, and flood roads. The Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority warned that strong winds might continue in Prakasam and SPSR Nellore until noon.

Transport was already affected near Ongole. Reports said vehicles were stopped during the early morning because winds reached 90–100 kmph on a highway. Rainfall was also intense, with Naguluppalapadu receiving 198.01 millimetres and Kothapatnam 182.25 millimetres. Such concentrated rain can make roads unsafe and disrupt travel.

Coastal communities faced an additional threat from seawater moving inland. A storm surge of 1.0–1.5 metres above the astronomical tide was expected to inundate low-lying areas in Bapatla and Krishna. Red and orange alerts extended the concern beyond the immediate landfall zone.

A storm surge is a temporary rise in sea level caused mainly by a cyclone’s winds pushing seawater toward the coast. Lower air pressure near the storm can raise the sea surface further. It is different from ordinary waves, although waves can ride on top of the surge and worsen flooding.

The article warned of a surge 1.0–1.5 metres above the astronomical tide. Astronomical tide is the regular sea-level change caused by the Moon and Sun. When surge arrives during a high tide, the water levels combine. Seawater can then cross beaches, dunes, embankments, roads, and other low coastal barriers.

That is why low-lying areas in Bapatla and Krishna were specifically warned. Even without exceptional rainfall, the rising sea can inundate homes, roads, and farmland. With heavy rain already falling, drainage becomes harder, so floodwater may remain longer and affect more people.

Tropical cyclones are powered by heat and moisture from warm ocean water. After moving over land, the storm is cut off from that energy supply. Land also creates more friction than the ocean, slowing surface winds and disrupting the storm’s organized circulation. Mountains and uneven terrain can weaken it further.

Weakening is not immediate. A cyclone already contains strong winds, thick clouds, and large rainbands. Its circulation can continue inland while these stored conditions move over communities. Heavy rain may persist, and rivers or drainage systems can take time to respond. This explains why landfall does not end the danger.

The article expected Murasu to weaken into a cyclonic storm by noon and a deep depression by midnight. Yet gale winds could continue in Prakasam and SPSR Nellore until noon. The forecast shows that weakening and hazardous weather can occur at the same time.

Tropical cyclones begin over sufficiently warm ocean water. Evaporation loads the air with moisture, which rises around a developing low-pressure area. As the moisture condenses into clouds and rain, it releases heat. That heat strengthens rising air and lowers pressure further, drawing in more moist air. Earth’s rotation helps organize the circulation.

The Bay of Bengal often provides the needed warm water and humid air. Its broad basin can support long stretches of storm development. Seasonal weather patterns, including changing winds and the movement of the monsoon, can also create conditions that help disturbances organize. These factors can combine to produce powerful storms.

The supplied article does not explain cyclone formation or why the Bay of Bengal is prone to storms. Established meteorological knowledge provides that background. Murasu illustrates the consequences: intense rainfall, 90–100 kmph winds, possible surge flooding, and rapid weakening after moving inland.