Cyclone Murasu Intensifies to Severe Storm, Set for Andhra Pradesh Landfall Near Ongole

Severe Cyclonic Storm Murasu intensified over the west-central and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal and is forecast to make landfall on the south Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Narsapur, close to Ongole, between 11:30 pm IST on 2 November and 4:00 am IST on 3 November. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) states the system will cross as a severe cyclonic storm with sustained winds of 100-110 kmph, gusting to 120 kmph.

At 2:30 am IST on 2 November the storm was centred near 13.6°N and 82.5°E, roughly 260 km east-northeast of Chennai, 290 km east-southeast of Nellore, 320 km south-southeast of Machilipatnam, 310 km east-southeast of Kavali, 330 km southeast of Ongole and 470 km south of Visakhapatnam. It had moved northwestwards at about 20 kmph over the previous six hours after intensifying from a cyclonic storm into a severe cyclonic storm.

This is the second cyclonic storm to affect Andhra Pradesh in less than a week. The IMD has warned of a storm surge of about 1.0-1.5 metres above astronomical tide that is very likely to inundate low-lying areas of south coastal Andhra Pradesh at the time of landfall. Peak surge is expected over Bapatla and also in Krishna and Prakasam districts. Earlier bulletins had projected a slightly lower surge of 1.0-1.2 metres before the figure was revised upward.

Andhra Pradesh has deployed six National Disaster Response Force teams and seven State Disaster Response Force teams in districts likely to be affected. Two teams each are stationed in Krishna, Bapatla, Guntur, Nellore and Prakasam, with one team each in Markapuram, Palnadu and Tirupati. Additional teams remain available for deployment if conditions worsen after landfall. The Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority has identified Ongole as the most likely landfall point and has positioned resources accordingly.

Isolated extremely heavy rainfall is expected at one or two locations in Krishna, Guntur, Bapatla, Prakasam, Markapuram and Nellore on Monday. Squally winds of 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph have already begun along and off the Andhra Pradesh, north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts. Fishermen have been advised to stay off the Andhra Pradesh coast from the morning of 2 November to the afternoon of 4 November. Sea conditions are expected to remain rough to very rough through the landfall period.

In Tamil Nadu, schools and colleges in Chennai and Tiruvallur districts are closed on 2 November because of heavy rains associated with the system. An orange alert covers six districts in Telangana and a yellow alert covers five more for Monday. Southern Odisha remains on high alert, with Rayagada district in particular having deployed 11 fire service teams and conducted an emergency review session on Sunday. North Tamil Nadu is under a very heavy rain warning.

The name Murasu means war drum. The system formed as a deep depression, intensified into a cyclonic storm on 1 November and then into a severe cyclonic storm early on 2 November. IMD bulletins have tracked its steady northwestward movement and gradual strengthening since the previous evening. At 5:30 pm on 1 November it was located about 420 km east-southeast of Chennai and 530 km southeast of Ongole. By early 2 November it had closed the distance significantly while gaining intensity.

Coastal Andhra Pradesh, north Tamil Nadu and adjoining areas face the highest risk of strong winds, heavy rain and storm surge through the night of 2-3 November. Inland districts may see continued heavy rain on 3 and 4 November as the system weakens after landfall and moves further inland. Residents in low-lying coastal zones and fishermen have been directed to follow official advisories and complete any remaining preparations before the landfall window. Authorities have advised against travel in coastal districts during the expected peak impact hours.

The second cyclone in quick succession tests preparedness after the earlier system. District administrations have activated control rooms, pre-positioned relief material and coordinated with the National Disaster Response Force. Power utilities and telecom operators have been asked to keep restoration teams ready. Agricultural departments are monitoring potential damage to standing crops in coastal and delta districts that have already received heavy rain this season.

IMD continues to issue updates every few hours. The next critical window is the landfall period itself, after which the system is expected to weaken rapidly over land. Until then, the combination of gale-force winds, heavy rainfall and storm surge remains the primary concern for the south Andhra coast between Nellore and Narsapur.