Cyclone Murasu Expected to Form Today; IMD Sees Severe Storm Crossing Andhra Coast on 3 November

A weather system over the southeast Bay of Bengal is expected to strengthen into a cyclonic storm on Sunday, 1 November, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Once it reaches that stage, it will be called Murasu, a name contributed by India. It would be the second cyclonic storm over the Bay this year, after Cyclone Arnab, which has since weakened and dissipated over southeast Uttar Pradesh.

Where it is and where it is heading

In its 5:30 pm bulletin on Saturday, the IMD placed the depression about 960 km east-southeast of Chennai and roughly 980 km southeast of Visakhapatnam, moving west-northwest at around 30 kmph.

The forecast track shows it becoming a severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal on 2 November. It is then expected to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Narsapur on the morning of 3 November, with sustained winds of 100–110 kmph and gusts of up to 120 kmph.

Rain outlook

• Andhra Pradesh: moderate to heavy rain likely over South Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema over the coming days.
• Tamil Nadu: rain forecast from 1 to 6 November, with isolated thunderstorms and gusty winds of 30–40 kmph till 4 November.
• Kerala: yellow alerts in several districts, including Idukki, Pathanamthitta and Kottayam today and Wayanad and Palakkad on 2 November.

Residents of coastal districts should follow official IMD and state disaster management advisories as the forecast is updated.

Featured image: Satellite view of Cyclone Fani over the Bay of Bengal in 2019 (for representation). Photo: NOAA, Public domain (source).

Sources

• Cyclone Murasu likely to form tomorrow, severe storm may hit Andhra coast on November 3 – Argus
• After Arnab, Cyclone Murasu headed to Andhra Pradesh – The Week