Cyclone Murasu is expected to cross the south Andhra Pradesh coast between late November 2 and early November 3, bringing winds of 100-110 kmph and gusts of up to 120 kmph, while the India Meteorological Department has forecast heavy rain, thunderstorms and lightning across several states. Delhi, however, is likely to see partly cloudy skies without a rainfall warning. The severe cyclonic storm was moving northwestwards at around 20 kmph over the west-central and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal, according to the IMD forecast reported by the Times of India. At 2.30am on November 2, the system was located about 260 km east-northeast of Chennai and 290 km east-southeast of Nellore. The storm is likely to cross the south Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Narsapur, close to Ongole, between 11.30pm on November 2 and 4am on November 3. Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema are expected to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall, along with thunderstorms and gusty winds. The strongest wind conditions are forecast along the storm’s path. Andhra Pradesh may experience winds of 100-110 kmph, with gusts reaching 120 kmph. Rayalaseema is expected to see winds of 30-40 kmph, with gusts of up to 50 kmph. Telangana may experience a thundersquall with winds of 50-60 kmph and gusts of up to 70 kmph. The IMD has also forecast heavy rainfall in several other regions. Odisha may receive heavy rain at isolated places on November 3, while very heavy rainfall is possible at isolated locations on November 2. Rayagada district has been placed under an orange warning for November 3 and 4. Chhattisgarh may receive heavy rainfall at isolated places on November 3 and 4, accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning. In southern and western India, heavy rain is forecast in parts of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, coastal Karnataka and south interior Karnataka. Puducherry and Karaikal may receive rainfall over the next few days. Vidarbha is likely to see isolated to scattered rainfall, while parts of Goa may receive light rain and thundershowers on November 4 and 5. The IMD attributed rainfall activity across parts of central and western India to a trough extending from the east-central Arabian Sea along the Maharashtra coast towards a cyclonic circulation over north Chhattisgarh and adjoining east Madhya Pradesh. The trough passes across Konkan and Goa, Madhya Maharashtra, Marathwada and Vidarbha. Elsewhere, east Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are expected to receive rainfall through November 4. Arunachal Pradesh may receive heavy rain at isolated places on November 3, while Assam and Meghalaya may experience thunderstorms, lightning and isolated heavy rainfall. Himachal Pradesh may see light rain and snowfall in higher-altitude areas, including Kinnaur, Shimla and Lahaul-Spiti. Delhi, Punjab and Haryana are expected to remain largely dry over the next few days. The IMD has forecast partly cloudy skies for the national capital and has issued no rainfall warning for Delhi. The next major weather milestone is Cyclone Murasu’s expected landfall window along the south Andhra Pradesh coast between late November 2 and early November 3.
