Severe Cyclonic Storm Murasu Nears Landfall on Andhra Pradesh Coast

Severe Cyclonic Storm Murasu is expected to make landfall on the south Andhra Pradesh coast between midnight on 2 November and early hours of 3 November 2026, the India Meteorological Department stated in its latest bulletin.

At 0830 hours IST on 2 November, the storm lay centered over the Westcentral Bay of Bengal near 14.1°N and 81.4°E. That position places it about 160 km east-southeast of Nellore, 180 km northeast of Chennai, 180 km east-southeast of Kavali, 210 km southeast of Ongole and 240 km south of Machilipatnam.

It moved west-northwestwards at 22 kmph over the previous six hours. The IMD forecasts continued northwestward movement. Landfall is projected between Nellore and Narsapur, south of Ongole, with sustained winds of 100 to 110 kmph gusting to 120 kmph.

Schools and colleges in Chennai and Tiruvallur districts closed on 2 November due to heavy rain. An orange alert covers six Telangana districts and a yellow alert five more. Flights were cancelled: 11 at Chennai airport and 10 IndiGo services from Gannavaram.

Storm surge of 1.5 to 2.0 metres above astronomical tide is likely to inundate low-lying areas of south coastal Andhra Pradesh. Peak surge is expected over Bapatla and parts of Krishna and Prakasam districts. Extremely heavy rainfall is forecast at isolated places over coastal Andhra Pradesh on 2 and 3 November.

This follows Cyclone Arnab, which affected the east coast less than a week earlier. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu coordinated with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on mitigation steps. Disaster management teams are on alert for evacuations and coastal disruption.

Satellite tracking continues from multiple platforms. The system is expected to weaken after landfall as it moves inland. Residents in the affected districts have been advised to stay indoors, avoid coastal areas and follow official advisories on wind and rain.

The name Murasu, meaning war drum, was assigned by the regional naming system. Previous cyclones in the Bay of Bengal have caused significant agricultural and infrastructure damage in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Authorities have pre-positioned relief supplies and National Disaster Response Force teams.

Updates from the IMD at 1330 hours IST confirmed the storm near 14.20°N and 81.0°E, still packing 100-110 kmph winds near the centre. Movement had slowed slightly to 14 kmph west-northwest. Landfall timing remains unchanged.

Coastal communities in Nellore, Prakasam and surrounding districts face the highest immediate risk from wind, surge and flooding. Inland areas may see heavy rain extending into Telangana and parts of Odisha. The system is not expected to retain severe intensity for long after crossing the coast.

Local administrations have opened shelters and arranged transport for vulnerable residents. Power utilities have prepared for outages. Fishermen have been warned against venturing into the sea. The combination of recent prior cyclone impacts and this new system has stretched some response capacity, though coordination between states has improved according to official statements.

Further bulletins will track the exact landfall point and any changes in intensity. Residents should rely on IMD and state government sources for the latest warnings rather than unverified reports.