Severe Cyclonic Storm Murasu Set to Cross Andhra Pradesh Coast Overnight

Severe Cyclonic Storm Murasu is forecast to cross the south Andhra Pradesh coast between 11:30 pm IST on November 2 and 4:00 am IST on November 3. The India Meteorological Department places the landfall zone between Nellore and Narsapur, close to Ongole. Sustained winds at the time of crossing are expected at 100-110 kmph, with gusts reaching 120 kmph.

At 2:30 am IST on November 2 the system was centered near latitude 13.6°N and longitude 82.5°E. That position put it about 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 nearly northwestwards at 20 kmph over the previous six hours and had intensified into a severe cyclonic storm.

A storm surge of 1.0 to 1.5 meters above the astronomical tide is very likely to inundate low-lying areas of south coastal Andhra Pradesh at landfall. The highest surge is expected over Bapatla and also across Krishna and Prakasam districts. Extremely heavy rainfall is likely at isolated places over coastal Andhra Pradesh on November 2 and 3. Seas will remain high to very high, with waves of 9-14 meters near the coast through midday on November 3.

Schools and colleges have been ordered closed in several districts of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Parts of Odisha and Telangana have also issued alerts. Chennai and Tiruvallur district collectors announced closures on November 2 because of heavy rain associated with the system. An orange alert covers six Telangana districts and a yellow alert five more for Monday.

The name Murasu is a Tamil word for a large traditional drum used in the past to signal danger, mark celebrations or gather people. India contributed the name to the pre-approved list maintained for the North Indian Ocean under World Meteorological Organization arrangements. Thirteen countries each supply names that are used in fixed alphabetical sequence. Murasu follows Arnab, which Bangladesh contributed and which made landfall on the Andhra coast on October 28. The next name in line is Akvan from Iran. A storm receives its name only after it reaches cyclonic storm intensity, defined as sustained winds of at least 62 kmph.

This is the second cyclone to threaten the east coast within a week. Cyclone Arnab crossed earlier and left residual moisture that has already produced heavy rain in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Disaster management agencies have been placed on alert for evacuations, port closures and power disruptions. Fishermen have been told not to enter the west-central Bay of Bengal until the afternoon of November 4 and to avoid the Andhra Pradesh coast through the same period. Offshore and onshore operations are advised to be suspended.

The IMD issued a Red Message cyclone warning for Andhra Pradesh and adjoining north Tamil Nadu. Continuous monitoring by INSAT-3DS and other satellites shows a well-organized circulation with dense cloud bands stretching toward the coast. Movement remains northwestwards. After landfall the system is expected to weaken over land but will continue to produce heavy rain inland for another day.

Coastal districts in the landfall zone face risks to fishing communities, agriculture and low-lying settlements. Port activity at Visakhapatnam and smaller harbors may be halted. Power lines and roads in the surge zone could see damage. The short interval after Arnab means some recovery work is still incomplete, which raises the chance of compounded effects on drainage and temporary shelters.

Authorities have not yet released full evacuation numbers, but the pattern from previous systems on this coast is that thousands of people in vulnerable villages are typically moved to safer buildings before a severe cyclonic storm arrives. The precise timing of the midnight-to-early-morning landfall will determine how many people can still be shifted once the storm’s outer bands intensify.