New Delhi: Cyclone Arnab strengthened over the Bay of Bengal on Monday, October 26, as the system continued moving towards India's east coast, and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red-level cyclone warning for the coasts of Andhra Pradesh and adjoining south Odisha, warning that the system could intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm before making landfall.

Source: IMD bulletin via Weather.lk

According to the IMD bulletin, the system intensified from a deep depression into Cyclone Arnab after moving nearly westwards at around 15 kmph over the previous six hours. At 5:30 am IST on October 26, the storm was centred near 15.4°N latitude and 88.9°E longitude over the east-central and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal, about 650 km east-southeast of Visakhapatnam, 730 km east-southeast of Kakinada and 910 km east of Bapatla.

Source: IMD bulletin via Weather.lk

115-125 kmphForecast maximum sustained wind speed at landfall, gusting to 140 kmph, according to the IMD
Oct 28 forenoonWhen Arnab is forecast to cross the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam
650 kmDistance of the storm centre east-southeast of Visakhapatnam at 5:30 am IST on Oct 26, IMD said

The IMD expects Arnab to move west-northwestwards and strengthen into a severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal by midnight on October 26, with further intensification into a very severe cyclonic storm likely on October 27, before it turns northwestwards towards the Andhra Pradesh coast.

Source: IMD bulletin via Weather.lk

In Odisha, the Mohan Charan Majhi-led government stepped up preparations, mobilising personnel and equipment and deputing eight ministers to vulnerable districts, IANS reported. The ministers will remain in their assigned districts from October 27 to 29, the leave of district collectors and other officers in critical offices has been cancelled, and Majhi reiterated the state's zero-casualty objective, directing officials to prioritise public safety, evacuation and emergency response. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu directed officials to remain on high alert and ensure maximum preparedness at every level, the report said.

Source: IANS via The Times of Bengal

Majhi said the cyclone could affect Odisha with heavy rainfall in southern and coastal districts and gusty winds of 70-90 kmph, with Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri likely to be the worst-affected districts, IANS reported. The IMD has also issued red warnings for heavy rainfall in five districts of Odisha, alongside warnings for vulnerable areas in Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Telangana, a separate report said. Awaaz Punjab has been tracking Arnab since it formed as a depression; schools in five Odisha districts are already ordered closed on October 28 and 29.

Source: Business News Week