Cyclone Arnab Smashes Into Andhra Pradesh Coast; Red Alert for Odisha
Very severe cyclonic storm Arnab hits Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts. IMD issues red alerts for six Odisha districts as heavy rain looms.
The very severe cyclonic storm Arnab has officially completed its landfall along the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts, bringing ferocious wind speeds and torrential rain. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed that the system moved completely over land by 8 am on Wednesday, October 28, 2026.
The Impact of Landfall
The cyclone crossed the coast between 2 am and 8 am, striking between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam. According to the IMD, the storm hit with maximum sustained wind speeds ranging from 125 to 135 kmph, with violent gusts reaching up to 150 kmph.
The center of the system was pinpointed near latitude 16.450N and longitude 81.90E. Specifically, the storm's center was located approximately:
- 20 km east-northeast of Narsapur
- 40 km southwest of Yanam
- 60 km southwest of Kakinada
- 90 km east-northeast of Machilipatnam
- 120 km east of Gannavaram
- 120 km southwest of Tuni
Storm's Path and Weakening Process
The IMD predicts that Cyclone Arnab will continue to move in a north-northwest direction over the next 48 hours. While it has moved inland, the system is expected to weaken gradually. The weather agency expects it to downgrade to a 'Cyclonic Storm' within the next six hours and further weaken into a 'Deep Depression' in the following six hours.
Odisha on High Alert
Despite the landfall occurring in Andhra Pradesh, the danger is far from over for neighboring Odisha. Manorama Mohanty, Director of IMD Bhubaneswar, warned that wind speeds and rainfall are projected to increase across the state, with the most severe impact expected in South Odisha.
Red Warning for Six Districts
The IMD has issued a red warning for the following six districts of Odisha:
- Ganjam
- Gajapati
- Rayagada
- Koraput
- Malkangiri
- Nabarangpur
In these regions, the IMD forecasts heavy to very heavy rainfall, with isolated instances of extremely heavy rain. Wind speeds in these districts are likely to be between 60 to 70 kmph, gusting up to 80 or 85 kmph.
Coastal Precautions
Director Mohanty also noted that heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to hit some coastal districts of North Odisha. As a safety measure, fishermen have been strictly advised not to venture into the sea until October 29.