Cyclone Murasu Slams Andhra Coast: Red Alert Issued as 120kmph Winds Batter Regions
Severe cyclonic storm Murasu makes landfall near Ongole with winds up to 120 kmph. Red alerts issued for multiple districts in Andhra Pradesh.
The southern coastline of Andhra Pradesh was struck early Tuesday morning as Cyclone Murasu made landfall, bringing ferocious winds and heavy rainfall to the region. K Nagaratna, the Director of the Andhra Pradesh Meteorological Department, confirmed that the severe cyclonic storm crossed the coast near Ongole between 03:30 AM and 05:30 AM on November 3.
Landfall Details and Wind Intensity
Moving in a north-northwest direction at a steady speed of 8 kmph over the preceding six hours, the storm centered its impact around the Ongole region. According to MET Director K Nagaratna, the system brought gusty winds ranging from 100 to 110 kmph, with peak gusts reaching a dangerous 120 kmph.
At the time of the report, the cyclone was positioned approximately:
- 20 kilometers east-southeast of Ongole
- 60 kilometers south-southwest of Bapatla
- 70 kilometers north-northeast of Kavali
- 100 kilometers north-northeast of Nellore
Officials indicated that the landfall process was expected to continue for another one to two hours after the initial crossing.
Red Alerts and High-Risk Zones
The meteorological department has issued a Red Alert for several districts, urging residents to remain extremely vigilant. The areas under high alert include:
- Krishna
- Guntur
- Bapatla
- Palnadu
- NTR
- Prakasam
In the NTR district, Collector Lakshmi Sha has explicitly urged citizens to stay indoors and avoid any unnecessary travel due to the forecast of heavy to very heavy rainfall. The Collector also conducted inspections in the Budameru area, reporting that no major problems had occurred there so far.
Storm Surge and Rainfall Warnings
One of the most critical threats accompanying Cyclone Murasu is the projected storm surge. Experts warn that water levels could rise 1 to 1.5 meters above astronomical tides, potentially inundating low-lying coastal areas across southern Andhra Pradesh throughout the morning of November 3.
The Bapatla region, located between the Krishna and Prakasam districts, is expected to experience the maximum peak surge before the levels gradually decrease.
Regarding precipitation, while most of coastal Andhra Pradesh is expected to see light to moderate rains, certain pockets in central coastal Andhra Pradesh are bracing for extremely heavy rainfall.
Warning for Fishermen and Maritime Operations
Given the volatile sea conditions, the Meteorological Department has issued a strict advisory for the fishing community. Fishermen have been warned not to venture into the sea until the morning of November 4.
Furthermore, all offshore and onshore operations have been totally suspended. These activities will remain halted until a formal review is conducted based on the latest warnings from the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Authorities have emphasized that the public should closely follow IMD updates until the cyclonic storm has significantly weakened.