Cyclone Murasu nears A.P. coast, heavy rain alert issued

A severe cyclonic storm is a powerful tropical storm with sustained winds of 89 to 117 kmph under India’s weather classification. It matters because strong winds, intense rain, and rising seawater can threaten homes, roads, power systems, and coastal communities. Murasu was expected to affect five Andhra Pradesh districts already facing monsoon rain deficits.

The India Meteorological Department forecast winds of 100 to 110 kmph, with gusts reaching 120 kmph. It also expected very heavy to extremely heavy rain in Bapatla, Palnadu, Markapuram, SPSR Nellore, and Prakasam. A storm surge was expected north of the landfall point.

The storm was moving toward the coast at 12 kmph on November 2. Red alerts covered Palnadu, Tirupati, and Nandyal, while 12 districts had orange alerts. Emergency teams, electricity equipment, and restoration workers were positioned before landfall because damage and disruption were possible.

Landfall is the moment when a tropical cyclone’s centre crosses from the sea onto the coast. Its location matters because the strongest winds, heaviest rain, and greatest coastal surge risk often occur near or around that track. Governments use the forecast landfall zone to target warnings, evacuations, and emergency preparations.

The article initially placed Murasu’s landfall between Ongole and Nellore on the intervening night of November 2-3. A live-update reference also described landfall as expected between Nellore and Narasapur. The storm was moving toward the coast at 12 kmph.

The IMD placed the system about 80 kilometres east-northeast of Nellore and 110 kilometres southeast of Ongole. It also reported gales along the Andhra Pradesh coast. Because forecast tracks can shift as a storm approaches, authorities prepared several districts and nearby regions rather than only one coastal point.

Wind speed shows how forcefully a cyclone can damage buildings, trees, roads, and electricity networks. Rainfall matters because intense water over a short period can overwhelm drains, flood low-lying areas, and trigger dangerous travel conditions. Murasu threatened both hazards as it approached Andhra Pradesh.

The IMD forecast sustained winds of 100 to 110 kmph, gusting up to 120 kmph, between Nellore and Narasapur. Along the Andhra Pradesh coast, reported gales were already 70 to 90 kmph, with gusts reaching 100 kmph. The five alerted districts were expected to receive very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall.

The article gives no exact rainfall total. It notes that these districts had recorded a monsoon rain deficit, but that did not remove the risk from a concentrated cyclone downpour. Northern Tamil Nadu also received heavy rain, while parts of north Chennai reported waterlogging as the storm’s outer bands arrived.

Weather alerts help people and officials match their response to the expected danger. A red alert generally means extremely severe weather is expected and authorities should take action to protect life and property. An orange alert generally means severe weather is possible or expected, so people should stay prepared and follow official advice.

The IMD’s Amaravati office issued a red alert for Palnadu, Tirupati, and Nandyal districts on Tuesday. An orange alert covered 12 districts. Five districts—Bapatla, Palnadu, Markapuram, SPSR Nellore, and Prakasam—were specifically warned about very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall.

Warnings also extended beyond Andhra Pradesh. Northern Tamil Nadu, including Chennai, Tiruvallur, and Kancheepuram, faced squally winds of up to 75 kmph through Tuesday morning. Odisha evacuated people in five districts after rain linked to Cyclone Arnab caused widespread damage the previous week.

A cyclone can create several hazards at once. Strong winds can break poles, damage buildings, and block roads. Heavy rain can flood streets and overwhelm drainage. A storm surge pushes seawater toward the coast, increasing flooding risk, especially north of the landfall point. Together, these hazards can interrupt transport, communications, electricity, and emergency access.

The IMD expected a storm surge along coastal areas north of landfall. Northern Tamil Nadu had already received heavy rain, and some parts of north Chennai reported waterlogging. Andhra Pradesh’s coast recorded gales of 70 to 90 kmph, gusting to 100 kmph. Officials estimated that 8,000 electricity poles could be affected.

Travel disruption was a likely consequence of flooded or blocked roads, though the article does not report specific transport cancellations. To prepare, 31,000 replacement poles were sent from Srikakulam to Krishna district, and 1,000 workers were expected from Chennai for power restoration.

Governments act before landfall because a cyclone can make roads unsafe, damage homes, cut electricity, and isolate communities. Evacuation reduces exposure to storm surge, flooding, and collapsing structures. Pre-positioned rescue teams can respond sooner, while spare equipment and repair workers can shorten power outages after winds damage the network.

Odisha evacuated 1.6 lakh people across Ganjam, Gajapati, Malkangiri, Koraput, and Kandhamal after Cyclone Arnab’s rain caused widespread damage the previous week. In Andhra Pradesh, 14 National Disaster Response Force teams were deployed across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Officials also sent 31,000 electricity poles toward Krishna district.

A further 1,000 personnel were expected from Chennai to help restore power. The preparations reflected the forecast that 8,000 poles could be affected. The State expected Murasu to be less severe than Arnab, but focused on efficient water management and rapid emergency response.

Tropical cyclones usually begin over very warm ocean water. Heat causes evaporation, loading the air with moisture. As moist air rises, pressure falls near the surface. Air rushes inward toward the low-pressure centre, rises, and releases heat when water vapour condenses. That released heat can make the storm stronger, creating a self-reinforcing circulation.

Earth’s rotation makes the inward-moving air curve, helping organize the system into a rotating storm. The storm’s winds push seawater toward the coast, producing storm surge. When moist air reaches land, it rises over coastal hills or converging air, often producing heavy rain. Flat, low-lying areas can then flood quickly when drainage is overwhelmed.

Murasu’s forecast illustrates these hazards. The storm carried winds up to 120 kmph, threatened very heavy rain, and was expected to create a surge north of landfall. North Chennai already reported waterlogging, showing how rain and coastal exposure can combine.