Cyclone Arnab began crossing the Andhra Pradesh coast in the early hours of Wednesday, with the landfall process starting near Yanam and the system moving ashore between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, authorities said. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported the storm is maintaining very severe conditions as it moves inland and warned of continued destructive winds and heavy rainfall for several hours.
Landfall details and immediate impact
The IMD said the landfall process commenced at about 1.20 am on October 28 and would continue for around four hours as the cyclone crosses the coast. Observations and disaster management officials reported trees uprooted near the Yanam entrance on National Highway 216, and strong winds affecting coastal areas.
“The wind speed of the cyclone will continue at the speed of 125 kmph to 135 kmph gusting 150 kmph for next four hours. The tip of the system has already entered the land mass and the entire process will take around four hours,” IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said, according to reporting.
The IMD has characterised Arnab as a very severe cyclonic storm at landfall, with sustained winds recorded in the range of 125-135 kmph and gusting up to 150 kmph. Such winds are capable of causing widespread damage to trees, power lines and weak structures, and officials have reported initial incidents of uprooted trees near the coast.
Warnings, surge and rainfall forecast
The Met office and disaster management agencies have issued high-level warnings for the coastal belt and interior districts likely to receive intense rainfall. The IMD has highlighted the risk of coastal flooding from storm surge, especially near Kakinada, where a surge of up to 2.5 metres above astronomical tide may inundate low-lying areas.
- Red warning for extremely heavy rainfall over Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Chhattisgarh.
- Heavy to very heavy rainfall expected over Telangana and Vidarbha.
- Thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds forecast across several northern and central states for the next two to three days.
- Evacuation advisories remain in force for vulnerable low-lying coastal localities.
The IMD and state disaster response units have urged residents in flood-prone and low-lying settlements to move to safer locations and remain in secure shelters until the cyclone's most severe phase passes.
What to expect over the next hours
The landfall process will keep strong winds and intense rainfall over the coastal districts for the next few hours as Arnab tracks inland. Even after the eye crosses the coast, heavy rain bands and gusty conditions are likely to extend well into interior districts, increasing runoff and the risk of flash floods in rivers and low-lying zones.
| Parameter | Expected/Observed |
|---|---|
| Sustained wind speeds | 125–135 kmph |
| Gusts | Up to 150 kmph |
| Storm surge | Up to 2.5 m above astronomical tide near Kakinada |
| Duration of active landfall | About 4 hours (began ~1.20 am) |
State and district disaster management authorities are likely to continue issuing updates as the cyclone progresses inland. Electrical outages, tree falls, and road blockages are typical in such situations and have already been reported in coastal approaches. Residents are advised to avoid unnecessary travel and to follow instructions issued by local administration and emergency services.
The IMD will continue to track the system’s evolution and update warnings; complementary inputs from state disaster management agencies and meteorological units will guide search, rescue and relief operations where necessary.
