Cyclone Murasu strengthens as Andhra coast faces landfall threat

Cyclone Murasu reached severe cyclonic storm strength early on Monday, November 2, the India Meteorological Department reported. Its position was in the Bay of Bengal's west-central and southwestern waters. The system is expected to move northwest towards the south Andhra Pradesh coast.

Forecasts cited in the reports place the coastal crossing between Nellore and Narsapur, with the area near Ongole also identified. Reports differ on the precise timing, describing a crossing during the night of November 2-3 or on the morning of November 3.

Rain warnings extend beyond Andhra Pradesh

The expected wind speed at landfall is 100-110 kmph, with gusts of up to 120 kmph. One report also cites the possibility of further strengthening before the system reaches the coast.

At 2.30 am on Monday, IMD observations placed the storm about 260 km east-northeast of Chennai and 290 km east-southeast of Nellore. It was also about 310 km east-southeast of Kavali and 330 km southeast of Ongole.

Rain had started in parts of Andhra Pradesh by 6 am, according to reports. Extremely heavy rainfall alerts covered Eluru, Krishna, Guntur, Bapatla and SPSR Nellore districts.

Very heavy rain was also forecast for NTR, East Godavari, West Godavari, Palnadu, Chittoor and Tirupati, with Eluru appearing in that forecast as well. The reports contain inconsistent day and date labels for some rain warnings, so the exact timing of those district forecasts remains unclear.

Heavy rain forecasts prompted the Chennai and Tiruvallur administrations in Tamil Nadu to close schools and colleges on Monday. In Telangana, IMD issued orange alerts for six districts and yellow alerts for five.

Cyclone Murasu follows Cyclone Arnab, which recently affected Andhra Pradesh. India proposed the name Murasu, according to the reports.

The coastal crossing remains a forecast. The differing timings in the available reports do not establish an exact landfall hour.

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