Severe Bay of Bengal Cyclone Set to Hit Andhra Coast With 125 Kmph Winds

UPDATE - follow-up to Andhra braces for very severe cyclonic storm; Odisha activates disaster mitigation machinery | LIVE: A severe cyclonic storm over the Bay of Bengal is heading toward the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts, expected to cross between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam by the forenoon of October 28 with wind speeds reaching 115 to 125 kmph, gusting up to 140 kmph.

Official Action

Odisha has mobilised NDRF and ODRAF teams and ordered school closures across five districts, while Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandravabu Naidu has directed officials to stop fishermen from going out to sea and set up toll-free numbers for emergency help. Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi reviewed state preparedness with a zero-casualty goal, and police in Salem district stopped tourists at the foothills of Yercaud due to heavy rain.

Regional Impact

The India Meteorological Department recorded 12 to 20 cm of rainfall in south interior Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala within 24 hours. Tiruvannamalai Collector Vandhana Garg banned tourist visits to Bheeman Falls, and the IMD issued red alerts for Malappuram, Kozhikode, and Wayanad districts, along with orange alerts across ten other Kerala districts. Greater Chennai Corporation Deputy Commissioner Ahtab Rasool inspected waterlogged areas in Thoraipakkam and Ramalingam Nagar, as the civic body urged residents to call 1913 for tree falls or emergencies.

Context

Cyclonic storms form over warm ocean waters like the Bay of Bengal and typically bring destructive winds and heavy downpours upon landfall. Authorities issue tiered weather alerts such as red, orange, and yellow to warn residents of varying rainfall intensities and prompt early evacuations.