Cyclone Arnab intensifies into severe storm with red alert for Andhra Pradesh and Odisha

UPDATE - follow-up to Cyclone Arnab FAQ: When will it make landfall, which areas are on alert?: Cyclone Arnab has grown into a very severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal. The India Meteorological Department has issued a red warning for the coasts of Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha. The storm marks the first cyclonic system of the 2026 North Indian Ocean cyclone season and is pronounced as Ornab.

Storm Movement

The system moved west-northwestwards at a speed of 25 kilometers per hour in the six hours leading up to 2:30 am IST on October 27. It was located about 300 kilometers southeast of Visakhapatnam, 360 kilometers east-southeast of Kakinada, and 380 kilometers south of Gopalpur in Odisha. Additional position data shows it sat 460 kilometers east of Machilipatnam and 530 kilometers east of Bapatla. The storm is set to continue moving west-northwestwards until Tuesday evening before shifting northwest towards the coast.

Landfall And Winds

The cyclone will cross the Andhra Pradesh-Yanam coast between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, close to Yanam, by the forenoon of October 28. Maximum sustained wind speeds will reach 115 to 125 kilometers per hour, with violent gusts hitting 140 kilometers per hour during landfall. Coastal districts in both states will face heavy to extremely heavy rainfall through October 29 alongside powerful gales.

Official Action

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu ordered round-the-clock vigilance and the evacuation of low-lying areas. Authorities have shifted 4,711 pregnant women from vulnerable spots to medical facilities and deployed National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force teams. The state government released 27 crore rupees across 20 districts for relief work. Officials cancelled leave in vulnerable zones and set up 24-hour control rooms.

Closures And Restrictions

Educational institutions in affected Andhra Pradesh districts remain shut from October 27 to October 31. In Odisha, schools, colleges, and Anganwadi centres across five vulnerable districts will stay closed on October 28 and 29. Authorities restricted tourist and fishing access, and the weather office warned fishermen to stay away from the sea.

Context

Severe cyclonic storms form when warm ocean waters and atmospheric conditions combine over regions like the Bay of Bengal during the post-monsoon season. Emergency evacuations and pre-positioning of disaster response teams are standard protocols designed to prevent loss of life in low-lying coastal tracts.