Cyclone Murasu is expected to form over the Bay of Bengal on November 1 as a deep depression intensifies, with the system forecast to move towards the Andhra Pradesh coast by the evening of November 2, according to the Chennai Meteorological Centre. Tamil Nadu is expected to receive scattered rain, while heavier spells are forecast in selected districts over the next two days.
The system originated as a depression over the southern Andaman Sea and adjoining Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It moved west-northwest and intensified into a deep depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal, the Andaman Sea and nearby island areas by 5.30 am on October 31. It strengthened further into a deep depression around midnight, the weather centre said.
The system is expected to intensify into a cyclonic storm at around 11.30 am on November 1. Once it becomes a cyclone, it will be named Murasu, a name proposed by India under the regional system for naming North Indian Ocean cyclones.
After intensifying, the storm is forecast to continue moving west-northwest across the central-western Bay of Bengal and approach coastal Andhra Pradesh by the evening of November 2. The weather centre’s forecast places the main movement away from the Tamil Nadu coast, and weather analysts cited in the report said this could limit rainfall over the state compared with a system moving directly towards its coastline.
Tamil Nadu’s northern coastal districts, the Western Ghats districts, Madurai, Tiruchirappalli, Namakkal, Salem, Erode and Karur may receive light rain accompanied by thunder and lightning on November 1. Puducherry and Karaikal are also likely to experience similar weather, according to the forecast.
On November 2, heavy rain accompanied by thunder and lightning is expected in the Nilgiris and Tiruvallur districts. On November 3, Cuddalore, Villupuram and Puducherry may receive heavy rain with thunder and lightning. These forecasts are relevant to local travel and outdoor activity, particularly in districts where intense short-duration rain can affect roads and low-lying areas, although the supplied weather bulletin does not specify urban flood or wind warnings.
The developing system will be the second cyclone to form over the Bay of Bengal during the northeast monsoon season, according to the report. The next forecast milestones are the expected intensification on November 1, its movement towards the Andhra Pradesh coast on November 2 and the district-level rainfall outlook for Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal through November 3.
