Cyclone Murasu forms in Bay of Bengal and heads for Andhra Pradesh
The India Meteorological Department expects the system to intensify into a severe cyclone by Monday morning.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that a deep depression over the south-west and adjoining south-east Bay of Bengal intensified into cyclone Murasu on Sunday morning. The system moved west-northwestwards at 23 km/hr during the six hours ending 11.30 am on Sunday.
The cyclone was located approximately 560 km east-southeast of Chennai and 660 km south-southeast of Vishakhapatnam. IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra stated that the system is expected to intensify into a severe cyclone over the west-central Bay around Monday morning.
Murasu is forecast to cross the south Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Narsapur from midnight to early hours on Tuesday. The IMD expects wind speeds of 100-110 km/hr gusting to 120 km/hr, while Mohapatra noted wind speeds of 80 to 90 km/hr gusting up to 100 kmph.
Coastal Andhra Pradesh faces threats of heavy to extremely heavy rainfall. Rayalaseema, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and south Odisha are also expected to receive substantial rainfall. The IMD has advised fishermen not to venture into the sea until at least Wednesday afternoon.
This is the second cyclone over the Bay of Bengal during the ongoing north-east monsoon, following cyclone Arnab which made landfall near Narsapur on October 28.