Cyclone Murasu is moving towards the Andhra Pradesh coast and is expected to cross between Nellore and Narsapur from Monday midnight to Tuesday morning, while several districts in southern and coastal Odisha face heavy to very heavy rain, thunderstorms and strong winds, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The system is currently concentrated over the southwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal and is moving west-northwest towards the Andhra coast at about 27 kmph. The IMD has indicated that it could intensify into a severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal before turning towards the northwest.
At landfall, wind speeds are expected to reach 100-110 kmph, with gusts up to 120 kmph. The storm is projected to cross the coast around 150 km south of the location where Cyclone Arnab made landfall, according to IMD Director General Mritunjay Mohapatra, as quoted by The Samaja. Mohapatra said Murasu’s impact would be comparatively lower than Arnab’s because Arnab was a very severe cyclonic storm with maximum landfall winds of 150 kmph.
The IMD has forecast strong winds and rain in southern Odisha and coastal areas from the following day. Wind speeds could reach 60 kmph in Ganjam and Gajapati districts as the cyclone crosses the coast. The agency has also warned of possible landslides in southern Odisha, although the rainfall is not expected to match the levels recorded during Arnab.
For the next 24 hours, parts of Ganjam and Gajapati could receive heavy rain. Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri and Khordha are expected to experience rain with thunderstorms and winds of 40-50 kmph, with gusts reaching 60 kmph. These districts have been placed under a yellow warning.
The IMD has issued an orange warning for Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Gajapati and Ganjam on the 3rd, forecasting heavy to very heavy rain, thunderstorms and winds of 50-60 kmph, with gusts up to 70 kmph. Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nayagarh, Nabarangpur, Puri and Khordha are expected to receive heavy rain and winds of 40-50 kmph, with gusts up to 60 kmph.
Several districts in northern and central Odisha have also been placed under yellow warnings for heavy rain, lightning and gusty winds. These include Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Subarnapur, Boudh, Nuapada and Balangir, with forecast wind speeds varying by district.
On the 4th, the IMD has retained an orange warning for Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Gajapati and Ganjam. Bargarh, Nuapada, Balangir, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nabarangpur, Puri, Khordha and Nayagarh are expected to receive heavy rain with winds of 40-50 kmph and gusts up to 60 kmph. The IMD’s district-wise warnings will remain the key operational reference as the cyclone approaches landfall.
