🐅 Environment
After Arnab, Cyclone Murasu set to hit south Andhra coast on 3 November
In 60 seconds: A depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal is expected to grow into a severe cyclonic storm named Murasu, days after Cyclone Arnab. Moving west-northwest, it should become a cyclonic storm by Sunday midnight and cross the south Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Narsapur on Tuesday morning, 3 November. Heavy to extremely heavy rain is likely over south coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema for three days. Authorities have urged people to stay alert.
Why it matters
A second storm within a week strains coastal districts still recovering from Arnab. Early warnings help farmers, fishermen and officials prepare and save lives.
Explain it simply
You've just mopped the floor after one spill, and someone walks in carrying another full bucket. That is south India's coast this week.
The 3-minute read
What happened
The depression was expected to become a deep depression by noon on Sunday, a cyclonic storm by midnight, and a severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal the next day.
Background
Cyclone Arnab struck days earlier, flooding southern Odisha and leaving roads waterlogged in Andhra towns such as Machilipatnam. October to December is a peak season for Bay of Bengal cyclones.
How it works
Cyclones draw energy from warm sea water. As the system moves west-northwest over the warm Bay, it gathers strength before meeting land, where it weakens.
What's next
Landfall is expected on Tuesday morning, 3 November. The State Disaster Management Authority has asked people to follow official advisories.
What it means for you
If you live in coastal Andhra, keep phones charged, store drinking water, and follow IMD and state alerts rather than forwarded messages.
Key numbers
- 3 Nov: Expected landfall day
- 3 days: Period of heavy to extremely heavy rain
- 89–117 km/h: Wind range of a severe cyclonic storm on IMD's scale
Both sides
- Disaster officials: Stay alert and follow official advisories as the storm approaches.
- Cautious observers: Forecast tracks and strength can still shift; preparation should not wait for certainty.
Key terms explained
- Depression
- A low-pressure weather system with winds of 31–49 km/h that can grow into a cyclone.
- Severe cyclonic storm
- IMD's category for a cyclone with sustained winds of 89–117 km/h.
The story so far
- 28 Oct 2026: Very severe cyclonic storm Arnab brings extremely heavy rain to southern Odisha. Rivers such as the Rushikulya swelled, causing floods and landslides across seven districts, with Ganjam, Gajapati and Kandhamal worst hit.
- 31 Oct 2026: A low over the Andaman Sea is expected to become a depression in the southeast Bay. IMD had flagged on 30 October that a low-pressure area near the Andaman and Nicobar Islands would likely concentrate into a depression.
- Today: Cyclone Murasu forecast to cross south Andhra coast on 3 Nov
Exam notes (UPSC, SSC, Banking, PSC)
- Names for North Indian Ocean cyclones come from a list drawn up by the WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones; a list of 169 names was adopted in 2020.
- Murasu is one of the names contributed by India to that list.
- On IMD's scale, a cyclonic storm has winds of 62–88 km/h and a severe cyclonic storm 89–117 km/h.
- The Bay of Bengal sees more cyclones than the Arabian Sea, with peaks before and after the southwest monsoon.
Likely exam question: Why does the Bay of Bengal witness more frequent cyclones than the Arabian Sea? Discuss India's cyclone early-warning system.