Visakhapatnam/Bhubaneswar, October 26: For the second time in as many Octobers, the Andhra Pradesh coast is bracing for a storm. Cyclone Arnab, which formed over the Bay of Bengal this week, is expected to cross the Andhra Pradesh–Yanam coast on Wednesday, October 28, and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) says it could do so as a very severe cyclonic storm.

What the IMD says

A deep depression over the east-central Bay of Bengal intensified into a cyclonic storm on Monday and was named Arnab, a Bengali word for “ocean”. On Monday, it was moving west-northwestwards at about 15 kmph and was around 650 km from Visakhapatnam, 730 km from Kakinada and about 900 km from Bapatla.

The IMD expects it to make landfall between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam in the forenoon or around noon on Wednesday. Sustained winds are forecast at 115 to 125 kmph, with gusts or squalls of up to 140 kmph at the time of landfall. After crossing, the system is expected to weaken into a cyclonic storm by Wednesday evening and into a deep depression on Thursday.

A red alert has been issued for the Andhra Pradesh and adjoining south Odisha coasts, with heavy to extremely heavy rainfall, rough seas and a risk of flooding in low-lying areas. Fishermen have been told not to venture out.

Andhra Pradesh

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has placed 10 NDRF teams and 11 SDRF teams on standby. Evacuations from vulnerable coastal areas, shelters and fishing bans are among the measures being put in place, and officials are expected to be on duty for round-the-clock monitoring and quick restoration of power and roads after landfall.

Odisha

Although the landfall is forecast in the neighbouring state, Odisha is not taking chances. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said the state would remain fully prepared and warned of heavy rain and gusty winds of 70 to 90 kmph, particularly in southern and coastal districts.

Around 60 teams of the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) and 17 NDRF teams have been deployed, with 225 fire service teams on high alert. Odisha has banned sea fishing and restricted tourist entry in six districts, and Majhi has deputed eight ministers to vulnerable districts to oversee preparations.

Elsewhere

The storm’s moisture is also spreading inland. Rain has forced schools in parts of Chhattisgarh to shut, and 13 districts of Madhya Pradesh are under a heavy rain alert.

A familiar stretch of coast

This is not the first time the area has been tested. In October 2025, Cyclone Montha crossed the Andhra coast around the same time, causing heavy rain and extensive crop damage. Memory of that storm is likely to keep officials and residents on edge.

What residents should do

Follow instructions from district authorities and move to a shelter if asked. Keep a charged phone, torch, drinking water, medicines and important documents ready. Stay away from the coast, avoid sheltering under trees or hoardings, and don’t cross flooded roads. Fishermen should keep their boats ashore.

What to watch

Whether the storm reaches very severe intensity, the exact landfall point and time, the number of people moved to shelters, and how quickly power and communications are restored.

 

© Copyright 2026. All Rights Reserved. Powered by Vygr Media.