Cyclone Murasu to hit Andhra Pradesh coast by November 3
The India Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for five districts as the storm approaches the southern coast.
Cyclonic Storm Murasu is expected to make landfall along the southern coast of Andhra Pradesh between the night of November 2 and the early hours of November 3, according to the Financial Express. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert on Sunday for Krishna, Guntur, Bapatla, Prakasam, and Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore districts, warning of extremely heavy rainfall.
The weather system is moving west-northwestwards over the Bay of Bengal and is likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by the morning of November 2. At landfall, the storm may bring sustained wind speeds of 100-110 kmph, with gusts reaching 120 kmph.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu cancelled his Monday visit to Delhi to review relief and emergency response arrangements. Naidu stated on X that the system could cross the coast near Bapatla on the morning of November 3. However, the IMD bulletin identified the landfall stretch as the coast between Nellore and Narsapur.
The IMD forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall across coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema, and Telangana on November 2 and 3. Coastal areas are expected to experience gusty winds of 80-90 kmph during this period.
In neighbouring Odisha, the Special Relief Commissioner has shared an emergency action plan and issued directives to prepare the state administration for the storm's possible impact.