IMD weather update: Cyclone Murasu to make landfall on Nov 3; Tamil Nadu, Odisha on high alert

Less than a week after Cyclone Arnab, another deep depression over the Bay of Bengal intensified into a cyclonic storm on Sunday, leaving southern India on high alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall over the next three days.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), it will make landfall on the morning of November 3 between Nellore and Narsapur in Andhra Pradesh, with wind speeds of 100-110 kmph, gusting to 120 kmph.

This cyclone has been named ‘Murasu’ by India, meaning war drum.

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The IMD forecast said Cyclone Murasu would cross the south Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Narsapur, near Ongole. The expected landfall period was around midnight on November 2 to the early hours of November 3.

Winds are forecast to reach 100–110 kmph, with gusts up to 120 kmph, when the storm makes landfall.

The forecast includes Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Telangana, with rainfall also expected in areas such as Puducherry, Karaikal, Kerala and Mahe. Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam were warned of isolated extremely heavy rain on November 2.

Murasu is a Tamil word for a traditional percussion drum. The article says it was historically used to make public announcements across villages and kingdoms.

An orange alert for isolated heavy rainfall was issued for Khammam, Nalgonda, Suryapet, Mahabubnagar, Nagarkurnool and Wanaparthy districts for November 2.

The previous cyclone to hit the Andhra Pradesh coast and neighbouring Odisha was Arnab. It had wind speeds up to 150 kmph when it made landfall on October 28.

Areas to be affected by Cyclone Murasu

• Odisha
• Andhra Pradesh
• Tamil Nadu
• Telangana
• Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Check IMD weather forecast

The weather agency, in its latest update, said the deep depression has intensified into severe cyclonic storm and as of today, lay centered over the same region — about 260 km east-northeast of Chennai (Tamil Nadu), 290 km east-southeast of Nellore (Andhra Pradesh), 320 km south-southeast of Machilipatnam (Andhra Pradesh), 310 km east-southeast of Kavali (Andhra Pradesh), 330 km southeast of Ongole (Andhra Pradesh) and 470 km south of Vishakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh).

The IMD said that, under the influence of the system, isolated extremely heavy rainfall is likely over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam on November 2, followed by isolated very heavy rainfall on November 3.

The Met Dept also predicted isolated heavy rainfall in Puducherry and Karaikal on November 2 and 3; in Kerala and Mahe from November 1 to 4; and over Coastal and North Interior Karnataka on November 3.

Odisha on high alert

Manorama Mohanty, the director of the meteorological centre in Bhubaneswar, said Odisha will receive rainfall from November 2, with intensity increasing on November 3, continuing through November 4 under the cyclone's influence.

The state has already sounded a high alert in the southern region, including Ganjam, which was severely hit by Cyclone Arnab.

‘Red’ alert in Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu to remain on high alert after the Regional Meteorological Centre warned of heavy to very heavy rainfall over the next three days.

On November 2, heavy to very heavy rainfall is forecast at isolated places in Chennai and Tiruvallur, with heavy rain continuing in Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Ranipet, Vellore and the Nilgiris.

The intensity is expected to taper off on November 3, with heavy rain confined to isolated places in the Nilgiris.

“Depression over southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas of Andaman and Nicobar Islands intensified into a deep depression and into the cyclonic storm 'Murasu' on Sunday,” the RMC said on Sunday.

“It is very likely to move west-northwestwards and intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm over west central Bay of Bengal around November 2 morning. Thereafter, it is likely to cross south Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Narsapur in the early hours of November 3,” it added.

Rain alert in Telangana

The Meteorological Centre, Hyderabad, has issued orange and yellow alerts for several districts in the southern region for November 2.

An orange alert warning of heavy rainfall has been sounded for isolated places in Khammam, Nalgonda, Suryapet, Mahabubnagar, Nagarkurnool and Wanaparthy districts of Telangana.

A yellow alert has been issued for Jangaon, Yadadri Bhuvanagiri, Rangareddy, Hyderabad and Medchal-Malkajgiri districts of Telangana.

Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds of 30-40 kmph are very likely at isolated places in Khammam, Nalgonda, Siddipet, Yadadri Bhuvanagiri, Rangareddy, Hyderabad, Medchal-Malkajigiri, Mahabubnagar, Nagarkurnool, Wanaparthy, Suryapet, Mahabubabad, Warangal, Hanamkonda, Jangaon, Vikarabad, Sangareddy, Medak, Kamareddy, Narayanpet and Jogulamba Gadwal districts of Telangana.