Cyclone Arnab begins battering coastal Andhra; red alert for five districts

Strong winds and rain began affecting coastal districts, including Srikakulam, Palasa, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam, early on Tuesday.

Gusty winds and rough sea conditions witnessed in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday morning as Cyclone Arnab approaches. Photo | G. Satyanarayana, EPS

VISAKHAPATNAM: Rainfall and gusty winds began affecting parts of north coastal Andhra Pradesh early on Tuesday as very severe cyclonic storm Arnab continued moving towards the coast over the west-central Bay of Bengal. The system is expected to intensify through the day, with heavy rainfall forecast in the north coastal districts.

Strong winds and rain began affecting coastal districts, including Srikakulam, Palasa, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam, early on Tuesday. Rainfall also started picking up in the Kakinada-Pithapuram belt.

In its bulletin issued at 2.30 am on Tuesday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said Arnab had moved west-northwestwards at 25 kmph during the preceding six hours.

The storm was centred over the west-central Bay of Bengal, around 300 km southeast of Visakhapatnam and 360 km east-southeast of Kakinada.

National Bulletin No. 14 based on 2330 hrs IST of 26th October, 2026: Very Severe Cyclonic Storm “Arnab” [Pronunciation : Ornab] over Westcentral Bay of Bengal [Cyclone Warning for Andhra Pradesh and adjoining South Odisha coasts—Red Message] The severe cyclonic storm “Arnab” [Pronunciation :Ornab] over Westcentral Bay of Bengal moved west-northwestwards with a speed of 23 kmph during past 6 hours, intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm and lay centered at 2330 hrs IST of yesterday, the 26th October, 2026 over the same region near latitude 15.9°N and longitude 86.0°E, 400 km south-southeast of Gopalpur (Odisha), 350 km southeast of Vishakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), 420 km east-southeast of Kakinada (Andhra Pradesh), 520 km east of Machilipatnam (Andhra Pradesh), 590 km east of Bapatla (Andhra Pradesh) and 870 km west-northwest of Sri Vijaya Puram (Andaman Islands). It is very likely to continue to move west-northwestwards till evening of 27th October and thereafter, it is very likely to move northwestwards and cross Andhra Pradesh & Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, close to Yanam as a very severe cyclonic storm with the maximum sustained wind speed of 115-125 kmph gusting to 140 kmph by forenoon of 28th October, 2026.

— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) October 26, 2026

The IMD has issued a red alert for extremely heavy rainfall in Eluru, East Godavari, West Godavari, Konaseema and Kakinada districts. An orange alert has been issued for heavy to very heavy rainfall in Srikakulam, Parvathipuram Manyam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, Bapatla, Guntur, Krishna and NTR districts. Palnadu, Prakasam and Nellore districts are under a yellow alert for moderate to heavy rainfall.

Arnab is likely to continue moving west-northwestwards until Tuesday evening before turning northwestwards. The system is expected to cross the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, close to Yanam, by Wednesday forenoon as a very severe cyclonic storm. It is likely to bring maximum sustained wind speeds of 115-125 kmph, with gusts reaching 140 kmph.

Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) managing director Prakhar Jain said the authority was facilitating a faster response to cyclone-related issues through its 'Mana Mitra' WhatsApp service. People can report problems and seek assistance through the number 9552300009.

The authority urged residents in vulnerable areas to follow official advisories and exercise caution as the system approaches the coast.