Cyclone Arnab was expected to complete its landfall on the Andhra Pradesh coast within an hour on Wednesday, bringing strong winds, heavy rainfall and rough sea conditions to several coastal districts, while authorities issued flash-flood alerts across parts of the state.
The rear portion of the wall-cloud region of the severe cyclonic storm was expected to enter the Andhra Pradesh coast, according to the weather department. The system was centred about 30 km from Narsapur and 45 km from Yanam and was expected to cross the coast near Yanam within the next hour.
The cyclone had moved at a speed of 3 kmph over the preceding three hours, the report said. The slow movement of the system coincided with continuing rainfall and wind impacts across coastal areas, increasing the risk of waterlogging and flooding in low-lying locations.
Flash-flood alerts were issued for Bapatla, Guntur, Krishna, NTR, Eluru, Konaseema, East Godavari, Anakapalli, Visakhapatnam, Manyam and Srikakulam districts. The alert indicated that flooding could occur at any time as the storm moved towards the coast.
Collectors of Visakhapatnam, Kakinada, Konaseema and West Godavari districts reported heavy rainfall and strong winds in their respective areas. The conditions affected roads and other public spaces, with related updates reporting uprooted trees and flooded roads in parts of Andhra Pradesh.
The storm also produced rough sea conditions along the coast, adding a marine safety risk to the rainfall and wind impacts on land. The combination of intense rain, strong winds and possible flash flooding placed pressure on district-level administration to keep officials alert and respond to local disruptions.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu reviewed the cyclone situation and directed officials to remain alert, according to the supplied report. District authorities were continuing to monitor conditions as the storm approached the coast and the landfall process was expected to conclude near Yanam.
