Depression Forms Over Bay of Bengal; IMD Forecasts Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Crossing Andhra Coast on Oct 28 at 115-125 kmph

The Bay of Bengal system intensified into a depression at 5.30 p.m. on Saturday and is now forecast to become a very severe cyclonic storm crossing the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam by the forenoon of October 28, the IMD said. Odisha has cancelled the leave of all Collectors and key officials and shut schools in affected districts on October 28-29.

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The well-marked low-pressure area over the east-central and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal intensified into a depression on Saturday, according to the India Meteorological Department's (IMD) latest bulletin reported by Sambad English. The system was centred over the same region at 5.30 p.m. on October 24, about 820 km east-southeast of Visakhapatnam and 1,100 km east of Bapatla in Andhra Pradesh.

Source: Sambad English (IMD bulletin)

The IMD has forecast a sharp escalation from here. The depression is very likely to intensify into a deep depression before recurving west-northwestwards on October 25, become a cyclonic storm by the morning of October 26 and a severe cyclonic storm around the morning of October 27, Sambad English reported. It may then strengthen into a very severe cyclonic storm as it reaches the west-central Bay of Bengal near the Andhra Pradesh coast around the morning of October 28 — a significant upgrade from the 80-90 kmph winds forecast earlier in the day.

Source: Sambad English (IMD bulletin)

115-125 kmphforecast maximum sustained winds at landfall

140 kmphforecast gusts

Oct 28 forenoonlikely coast crossing between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam

820 kmdistance east-southeast of Visakhapatnam at 5.30 p.m. on Oct 24

The system is very likely to cross the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam by the forenoon of October 28 as a very severe cyclonic storm, the IMD said, according to Sambad English. TripuraNet, reporting the IMD forecast, said isolated extremely heavy rainfall is expected over coastal Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday and Wednesday, and further over Odisha and Telangana on Wednesday.

Source: TripuraNet (IMD forecast)

In Odisha, the state government has cancelled the leave of all district Collectors, District Magistrates and other officials holding key responsibilities, directing them to return to their headquarters at the earliest, Sambad English reported, citing a General Administration and Public Grievance Department letter dated October 24. Schools and Anganwadi centres in the affected districts will remain closed on October 28 and 29, with Collectors empowered to extend the closure if needed.

Source: Sambad English

Sources: Sambad English, October 24, 2026, reporting the IMD bulletin and the Odisha government order; and TripuraNet, October 24, 2026, reporting the IMD forecast. The storm will be named Arnab if it reaches cyclonic-storm strength, under the regional naming list.

Source: Sambad English (IMD bulletin)