Cyclone Murasu poised to hit Andhra coast near Ongole as rains begin in the north

Cyclone Murasu is set to strike the Andhra Pradesh coast near Ongole between 11:30 p.m. on Monday and 4 a.m. Tuesday, bringing winds of 100‑110 km/h. The storm moves west‑northwest at about 22 km per hour and was located roughly 160 km east‑southeast of Nellore, 180 km northeast of Chennai and 210 km southeast of Ongole at 8:30 a.m. Monday. Rain has already fallen in the northern districts: Kakinada (Rural) mandal recorded 51.75 mm between 8:30 a.m. and noon, while Bhogapuram in Vizianagaram logged a 24‑hour total of 102.49 mm, the highest in the state. Visakhapatnam saw 12.5 mm at Gambheeram, and the Rayalaseema region remained dry. Central and southern coastal districts, which are under red alert, have yet to receive significant rain, and Ongole had no measurable rainfall as of 10 a.m. The India Meteorological Department warned that the system may slow as it nears land, increasing the risk of heavy rain and storm surge. Officials of the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority said the impact will depend on the cyclone’s strength at landfall and local infrastructure. Around 2,000 people have been moved to safety so far, and authorities aim to relocate up to 30,000 residents, according to managing director Prakhar Jain. In Chennai, the IMD issued an orange alert, expecting 11‑20 cm of rain; schools were closed and some flights were cancelled. Greater Chennai Corporation commissioner G S Sameeran noted only minor water pooling in a few neighborhoods.

Context

The cyclone follows a pattern of late‑season storms that intensify over the Bay of Bengal and often make landfall along the Andhra coast, where high population density and low‑lying areas increase vulnerability to wind damage and flooding.