Cyclone Arnab is forecast to cross India's Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts on Oct. 28, threatening homes, crops and transport routes with damaging winds, heavy rain and coastal flooding.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) expects the storm to cross between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, close to Yanam, late Oct. 27 or early Oct. 28 ET (the morning of Oct. 28 IST). The forecast describes a stretch of coastline, not an exact crossing point.
IMD expects Arnab to strengthen into a very severe cyclonic storm before landfall. It forecasts sustained winds of 115 to 125 km/h, with gusts reaching 140 km/h. At 5 a.m. ET (09:00 UTC) Oct. 26, the storm's center was about 540 km east-southeast of Visakhapatnam.
Coastal Andhra Pradesh could see at least 21 cm of rain in isolated areas on Oct. 27 and 28 IST, while parts of southern Odisha face similarly intense rain on Oct. 28. IMD expects water levels to rise 1.0 to 1.5 meters above the astronomical tide at landfall, threatening low-lying areas. It forecasts the highest surge near Kakinada and Yanam. That surge estimate does not represent total flood depth.
The agency warned that homes, crops, power lines, roads and railways could be damaged. Officials told India's Cabinet Secretariat they had prepared shelters and evacuation plans. Response teams were deployed or on standby; the statement gave no evacuation count.
IMD advises fishing crews to avoid waters off Andhra Pradesh and Odisha from Oct. 27 through Oct. 29 IST.
