Cyclone Murasu Intensifies, Landfall Expected on Andhra Pradesh Coast

Severe Cyclonic Storm Murasu intensified over the west-central and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal early on November 2, 2026, and is expected to make landfall on the south Andhra Pradesh coast near Ongole between 11:30 p.m. IST on November 2 and 4 a.m. on November 3. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast sustained winds of 100-110 kmph gusting to 120 kmph at landfall.

At 5:30 a.m. IST on November 2, the system was centered near 13.9°N 81.8°E, about 200 km east-northeast of Chennai, 210 km east-southeast of Nellore, and 260 km southeast of Ongole. It had moved west-northwest at 25 kmph over the previous six hours. The IMD rates confidence in the track and intensity as high. A red-message cyclone warning is in effect for Andhra Pradesh and adjoining north Tamil Nadu.

A storm surge of 1.0-1.5 meters above astronomical tide is likely to inundate low-lying areas of south coastal Andhra Pradesh, with the highest surge expected over Bapatla, Krishna, and Prakasam districts. Extremely heavy rainfall is forecast at isolated places over coastal Andhra on November 2 and 3. Heavy to very heavy rain is also expected in Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh.

Schools and colleges closed in several districts of Andhra Pradesh, including NTR, Palnadu, Nellore, and Gudur, as well as in Chennai and Tiruvallur in Tamil Nadu. Parts of Odisha also announced closures. Local administrations deployed fire teams, JCBs, and excavators for possible road clearance. Fishermen were warned to stay off the sea. Port signals were raised at Visakhapatnam, Kakinada, and other harbors.

The storm arrives less than a week after Cyclone Arnab struck the same coast on October 28, killing seven people and causing an estimated ₹4,600 crore in damage across 18 districts. Recovery from that system is still underway. Officials said they had pre-positioned relief supplies and activated control rooms. The IMD expects Murasu to weaken after landfall as it moves inland and turns north-northeast.

Residents along the coast reported strengthening winds and rising seas by midday on November 2. The state disaster management authority advised people in low-lying and coastal villages to move to higher ground if instructed. Agricultural damage is a concern given the timing of the monsoon withdrawal and the recent Arnab impact on standing crops.

The IMD will continue to issue hourly updates as the system approaches the coast. Landfall timing remains within the midnight-to-early-morning window. Once ashore, the cyclone is expected to produce heavy rain inland for another 24 to 36 hours before dissipating.