Cyclone Murasu is expected to make landfall between Nellore and Narsapur on the southern Andhra Pradesh coast from midnight on Monday into Tuesday morning, bringing heavy rain and strong winds to southern and coastal Odisha, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The system is currently over the southwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal and is moving west-northwest towards the Andhra coast at 27 kmph.
The IMD has forecast that Murasu could intensify into a severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal before turning northwest. At landfall, sustained winds may reach 100-110 kmph, with gusts up to 120 kmph. The system is expected to cross the coast around 150 km south of the location where Cyclone Arnab made landfall, the report said.
IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said Murasu’s impact would be comparatively lower than that of Arnab. Arnab was categorised as an extremely severe cyclonic storm and recorded maximum winds of 150 kmph at landfall, while Murasu is expected to have maximum winds of about 120 kmph. Even so, the weather system is expected to affect Odisha through rain and strong winds from Tuesday.
Ganjam and Gajapati districts could experience winds of up to 60 kmph. The IMD has also warned of heavy to very heavy rain in parts of southern Odisha on November 3 and 4, with a risk of landslides in vulnerable areas. During the next 24 hours, parts of Ganjam and Gajapati may receive heavy rain.
For November 3, an orange warning for heavy to very heavy rain, lightning and winds of 50-60 kmph, with gusts up to 70 kmph, has been issued for Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Gajapati and Ganjam. Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nayagarh, Nabarangpur, Puri and Khordha are expected to receive heavy rain, with winds of 40-50 kmph and gusts up to 60 kmph. Several northern and central districts, including Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj, are under yellow warning for heavy rain and strong winds.
The November 3 forecast also includes thunderstorms and rain across a wider group of districts, including Puri, Khordha, Kalahandi, Kandhamal and Nabarangpur. On November 4, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Gajapati and Ganjam remain under an orange warning, with winds of 50-60 kmph and gusts reaching 70 kmph. The IMD has issued yellow warnings for several other districts, including Bargarh, Nuapada, Balangir, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nabarangpur, Puri, Khordha and Nayagarh.
The forecast places coastal settlements, road networks, electricity infrastructure and hilly districts under different levels of weather risk. The IMD’s warnings remain focused on the expected landfall window, rainfall intensity, lightning and wind conditions through November 4.
