Cyclone Murasu Now Severe: Andhra Landfall Due Tonight, 2-3 Nov

Updated 9:00 AM IST, 2 November: Cyclone Murasu has intensified into a severe cyclonic storm, and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) now expects it to cross the south Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Narsapur, close to Ongole, between 11:30 pm on 2 November and 4 am on 3 November. In its 2:30 am bulletin the IMD placed the storm near 13.6°N, 82.5°E, about 260 km east-northeast of Chennai and 290 km east-southeast of Nellore, moving northwest at about 20 km/h with sustained winds of 100-110 km/h and gusts up to 120 km/h.

Schools and colleges in Chennai and Tiruvallur are closed on 2 November, according to India TV. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu reviewed rainfall and wind forecasts, reservoir levels and precautionary measures, and cancelled his Monday visit to Delhi, the channel reported.

Heavy Rain From Chennai to Odisha

Moderate to heavy rain with isolated extremely heavy falls is forecast for south and central coastal Andhra Pradesh on 2 November, and heavy to very heavy rain on 3 and 4 November. Chennai and Tiruvallur get the most intense rain on 2 November, easing on 3 November. Telangana is under an orange alert for six southern districts and a yellow alert for five others on 2 November. In Odisha, Rayagada district is under a yellow warning until 2 November and an orange warning for 3 and 4 November, Business Standard reported, citing the IMD and the Special Relief Commissioner.

Also read Cyclone Murasu: Schools Shut in Chennai, Nellore as Landfall Nears

Fishing Ban Along the Andhra Coast

Fishermen have been asked to stay out of the southwest Bay of Bengal until the morning of 4 November. Fishing is restricted along the Andhra Pradesh coast from the morning of 2 November to the afternoon of 4 November, and similar warnings cover the north Tamil Nadu-Puducherry and south Odisha coasts. The IMD has advised authorities to move people from vulnerable coastal settlements and regulate road and rail traffic where needed.

Weaker Than Arnab, Still a Severe Storm

Earlier forecasts differed on wind speed. Oneindia, quoting IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, had reported sustained winds of 80-90 km/h; the 2 November bulletin puts them at 100-110 km/h. Cyclone Arnab, which hit the Andhra coast on 28 October, had winds up to 150 km/h, India TV reported. IPB has covered the Andhra Pradesh rain forecast for 2-3 November and the earlier storm in the Cyclone Arnab live page.

The IMD will issue further bulletins through the day, and the exact landfall point and time are likely to be narrowed down by evening.

Source: IMD all-India weather bulletin. Also based on reporting by Business Standard, India TV, ETV Bharat and Oneindia.

Image: Oneindia.