Severe Cyclonic Storm Murasu approaches Andhra Pradesh coast for landfall

Severe Cyclonic Storm Murasu lay centered about 160 km east-southeast of Nellore and 180 km northeast of Chennai at 0830 hours IST on November 2, 2026, over the west-central Bay of Bengal. The India Meteorological Department reported the system had intensified from a deep depression and was moving northwestwards at around 22 kmph.

IMD expects the storm to cross the south Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Narsapur, south of Ongole, during midnight of November 2 to early hours of November 3. Sustained winds at landfall are forecast at 100 to 110 kmph, with gusts reaching 120 kmph. A storm surge of 1.0 to 1.5 metres 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.

Districts in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Telangana have closed schools and colleges. NDRF and state disaster response teams are pre-positioned. Extremely heavy rainfall is likely over coastal Andhra Pradesh on November 2 and 3. Ports along the east coast have hoisted cautionary signals.

The name Murasu, meaning war drum, was assigned by the regional naming system. Satellite imagery shows organised cloud bands around the centre as the system tracks towards the coast. Coastal communities in Prakasam and surrounding districts have begun evacuations from vulnerable low-lying areas.

Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea. The storm is the latest in a sequence of systems that have affected the Bay of Bengal this season. After landfall, the system is expected to weaken as it moves inland over Andhra Pradesh and towards Telangana.