Bhubaneswar: Cyclonic Storm Arnab is likely to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast near Yanam by the forenoon of October 28 as a very severe cyclonic storm, with wind speeds reaching up to 140 kmph, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned.
The storm, which intensified into a severe cyclonic storm over the westcentral Bay of Bengal on Monday evening, is expected to strengthen further over the next 12 hours. The IMD has issued a red-message cyclone warning for the Andhra Pradesh and adjoining south Odisha coasts.
According to the IMD bulletin issued on October 26, the system was moving west-northwestwards at 17 kmph. At 5.30 pm, its centre was located over the westcentral Bay of Bengal near latitude 15.6°N and longitude 87.3°E.
At the time, the storm was approximately 490 km south-southeast of Gopalpur in Odisha and 490 km east-southeast of Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. It was also 560 km east-southeast of Kakinada, 660 km east of Machilipatnam and 730 km east of Bapatla.
The weather agency has forecast that Arnab will continue moving west-northwestwards until the evening of October 27 before turning northwestwards towards the coast.
The system is likely to cross the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, close to Yanam, by the forenoon of October 28. During landfall, maximum sustained wind speeds are expected to reach 115–125 kmph, with gusts up to 140 kmph.
With the storm approaching the coastline, the warning has heightened concerns over strong winds and heavy rainfall along the affected coastal areas. Odisha has stepped up precautionary measures in its vulnerable southern districts to respond to the potential impact of the cyclone.
