Cyclone Murasu heads towards the east coast of India; strong winds and heavy rains expected

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that a second cyclone is heading towards the eastern coast of India in less than a week, as of Tuesday morning.

Cyclone Murasu is expected to make landfall around midnight on Monday or early Tuesday morning, bringing heavy rainfall to Andhra Pradesh and neighboring Tamil Nadu.

The cyclone season has intensified due to the El Niño phenomenon, which has contributed to unprecedented warming, causing global changes in wind, pressure, and precipitation patterns.

IMD forecasts that Murasu will likely pass along the coast of southern Andhra Pradesh as a severe cyclonic storm with wind speeds of about 100–110 kilometers per hour (60–70 mph), with gusts up to 120 km/h.

The storm is expected to affect the coastline between Nellore and Narsapur, near the town of Ongole. It should be noted that last Wednesday, the Andhra Pradesh coast was affected by Cyclone Arnab, which caused heavy rains and claimed at least three lives.

Murasu is predicted to be weaker than its predecessor in terms of wind speed, but it could still bring additional heavy rains to already affected areas.

Cyclones, known as hurricanes in the North Atlantic and typhoons in the Pacific Ocean, are a regular threat in the Bay of Bengal and the northern Indian Ocean. The meteorological department warned that strong winds could damage thatched houses, tear off roofs and knock down trees, and also harm crops, plantations, and gardens.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), a low-pressure area formed over the South Andaman Sea, North Andaman Sea, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands continued its movement in the west-northwest direction. On October 31, 2026, at 8:30 AM, this area existed as a marked low-pressure area near the southeastern Bay of Bengal, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and the Andaman Sea.

The extent of this associated cyclonic circulation is up to an altitude of 7.6 kilometers above sea level. It is forecasted that this system will convert into a depression in the same area within the next six hours, after which it may strengthen further into a cyclonic storm within the next 24 hours.

IMD assesses that this system will continue to move in a west-northwest direction and is likely to reach the central western Bay of Bengal near the Andhra Pradesh coast around the evening of November 2, 2026. Since this system is still developing, continuous monitoring of its intensity and precise track is necessary.

Thunderstorms are expected at several locations in the coastal areas of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Sea conditions may be moderate to rough and occasionally very rough. Winds may blow from the southeast to the south at a speed of 37 to 46 kilometers per hour, with gusts reaching up to 55 km per hour.

Additionally, there is an increased risk of heavy rainfall in the coastal parts of Andhra Pradesh in the coming days. Farmers, fishermen, and coastal residents are advised to remain vigilant. Local vigilance signals may be activated at ports, and ships and boats traveling at sea need to exercise extreme caution.

Such weather systems are common in the Bay of Bengal during the months of October and November, which can cause heavy rainfall, strong winds, and high sea waves. Concerned state governments and disaster management teams have already started preparations. Citizens should pay attention to the regular updates issued by the IMD. If this system turns into a cyclone, a warning will be issued based on its intensity. Currently, it is in a developing stage, so there is no need to panic, but caution is mandatory. The meteorological department is continuously monitoring this situation and will issue additional alerts as required.