Cyclone Murasu crossed the Andhra Pradesh coast at 5.30 am on Tuesday, bringing torrential rain and strong winds to South Coastal Andhra Pradesh, while its rear end continued to make landfall, according to a Met Department official quoted by PTI.
The severe cyclonic storm was centred over South Coastal Andhra Pradesh at 8.30 am and had moved north-northwestwards at a speed of 8 kmph during the previous six hours. The system was located about 30 km north-northeast of Ongole, 40 km southwest of Bapatla, 90 km north-northeast of Kavali, 100 km south-southwest of Vijayawada and 120 km west-southwest of Machilipatnam.
The Visakhapatnam-based Cyclone Warning Centre and the India Meteorological Department said Murasu was likely to continue moving north-northwestwards and weaken gradually into a cyclonic storm by Tuesday noon. Wind speeds could reach 90 kmph, with gusts of up to 100 kmph, during this phase.
The weather system was expected to weaken further into a deep depression by Tuesday midnight, with wind speeds of up to 75 kmph. The Met Department forecast heavy spells of rainfall over South Coastal Andhra Pradesh for the following 12 hours, keeping the immediate risk of waterlogging and disruption active across affected areas.
Rainfall recorded between 8.30 am on Monday and 8.30 am on Tuesday showed the intensity of the system. Bapatla received 222.4 mm, the highest among the locations listed in the report. Narasapur recorded 198.6 mm, followed by Ongole at 120.2 mm, Machilipatnam at 83.9 mm, Bandrawela at 75 mm and Puducherry at 65.4 mm.
The rainfall totals place Bapatla and surrounding coastal settlements at particular risk of disruptions to roads, local transport and essential services while heavy rain continues. The system’s track also places several important urban centres and transport-linked areas, including Ongole, Vijayawada, Machilipatnam and Bapatla, within the zone requiring continued weather monitoring.
The official forecast indicates that the immediate weather threat is expected to reduce as Murasu weakens, but heavy rainfall is likely to continue through the next 12 hours. The Cyclone Warning Centre and the India Meteorological Department remain the authorities monitoring its movement and issuing further weather updates.
