Cyclone Murasu intensifies into severe cyclonic storm over Bay of Bengal
The system is expected to cross the south Andhra Pradesh coast with wind speeds reaching 120 kmph.
Cyclone Murasu intensified into a severe cyclonic storm over the West Central and Southwest Bay of Bengal in the early hours on Monday, November 2, according to The Hindu. At 2:30 a.m., the India Meteorological Department (IMD) observed the storm centred approximately 260 km east-northeast of Chennai and 470 km south of Vishakhapatnam.
The system is projected to move northwestwards and cross the south Andhra Pradesh coast near Ongole, between Nellore and Narasapur, by the morning of November 3. During landfall, the storm is expected to have sustained wind speeds of 100 to 110 kmph, with gusts reaching 120 kmph.
Rainfall has already begun in parts of Andhra Pradesh. The IMD issued an extremely heavy rainfall alert for Eluru, Krishna, Guntur, Bapatla, and SPSR Nellore, while very heavy rain is expected in NTR, East Godavari, West Godavari, Palnadu, Chittoor, and Tirupati.
In Odisha, the IMD issued an orange warning for Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, and Malkangiri, predicting heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated spots on November 3 and 4. Although the cyclone is not expected to make direct landfall in the state, it may trigger widespread rain and thunderstorms.
The Deccan Chronicle reported that a yellow warning for rain and thunderstorms has been issued for 16 districts in Odisha. Heavy rainfall is also anticipated in districts including Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nayagarh, Khordha, and Puri on November 3.