Cyclone ‘Arnab’ LIVE updates | ‘Arnab’ hurtling towards Andhra Pradesh coast

Several southern Odisha districts started receiving rain as ‘Arnab’ hurtled towards the Andhra Pradesh coast on October 27 2026

Updated - October 27, 2026 09:23 am IST

A fallen tree blocks a road at Maharanipeta in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, on October 27, 2026, amid rain and strong winds as Cyclone Arnab approaches the coast | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

The eastern coastal states of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh closed schools, prohibited sea fishing and kept rescue teams on standby, stepping up precautionary measures ahead of severe Cyclone Arnab’s expected landfall on Wednesday to ensure “zero loss of life and minimal damage to infrastructure”.

Also read | Cyclone ‘Arnab’ Highlights on October 26, 2026

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the deep depression over east-central and southeast Bay of Bengal has moved westward and has intensified into cyclonic storm ‘Arnab’.

Also read | Very severe cyclone ‘Arnab’ to make landfall near Yanam-Kakinada; red alert issued for seven districts

It is likely to cross Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam as a very severe cyclonic storm, with maximum sustained winds of 115-125 kmph gusting up to 140 kmph by the forenoon of October 28, it said.

Srikakulam district has received widespread rain overnight, as the Severe Cyclonic Storm (SCS) ‘Arnab’ strengthened into a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm (VSCS) at around 11.30 p.m. on Monday (October 26, 2026).

According to latest information from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Amaravati, the system lay centred at 2.30 a.m. over Westcentral Bay of Bengal, at around 300 km southeast of Vishakhapatnam, 360 km east-southeast of Kakinada, 380 km south of Gopalpur of Odisha, 460 km east of Machilipatnam, 530 km east of Bapatla and 920 km west-northwest of Sri Vijaya Puram of the Andaman Islands.

Arnab becomes ‘very severe cyclonic storm’, light showers begin in north Andhra

Arnab intensifies to VSCS, showers spread in north Andhra as IMD warns of coastal landfall near Yanam by Oct 28, 2026.

Under the potential impact of cyclone ‘Arnab’, unseasonal rain, thunderstorms and strong winds are likely in Uttar Pradesh between October 28 and 31.

According to the forecast, winds are likely to blow at 30 to 40 kilometres per hour on October 28 in Sonbhadra, Mirzapur, Chandauli, Varanasi, Bhadohi, Ghazipur, and Ballia, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing a yellow alert for these districts.

An orange alert has been issued for October 29 due to the possibility of heavy rainfall and strong winds in several districts.

Rainfall is forecast in several areas, including Chitrakoot, Kaushambi, Prayagraj, Fatehpur, Pratapgarh, Rae Bareli, Amethi and Sultanpur.

On October 30, heavy rain and strong winds are also likely in Bareilly, Pilibhit and Shahjahanpur, along with several districts of Purvanchal, Awadh, and the Terai region. As a result, daytime temperatures may fall by 5 to 8 degrees Celsius.

In light of the forecast, the Uttar Pradesh Relief Commissioner’s Office has issued precautionary guidelines for the general public and farmers, with the administration also laying emphasis on relief and rescue preparations, according to an official statement issued on Monday night.

The Relief Commissioner’s Office has urged people to follow weather-related warnings and the administration’s instructions. -- PTI

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has ordered heightened preparedness across the State in view of the threat posed by Cyclone Arnab, which is expected to bring heavy to extremely heavy rainfall. Roads and Buildings (R&B) Minister B.C. Janardhan Reddy has directed officials to ensure road safety and an uninterrupted emergency response.

The cyclone is expected to affect 13 districts with heavy rainfall on October 28 and 29. Wind speeds of 115 to 140 kmph are forecast in 12 districts, according to the State government’s assessments.

Cyclone Arnab threat: Naidu orders evacuations, puts Andhra Pradesh on high alert

AP CM Naidu orders statewide cyclone preparedness as Arnab hits 13 districts with 115–140 kmph winds, activating disaster teams and road safety measures.

At least 89,000 people living along the six coastal belts are being evacuated to 101 relief camps in the wake of Cyclone Arnab, expected to cross the coast near Yanam or Andhra Pradesh’s Kakinada as a “very severe” cyclonic storm on Wednesday (October 28).

On Monday, the entire Hope Island off the Kakinada coast has been evacuated by rehabilitating 130 inhabitants of the island in Kakinada city. Kakinada Rural, Uppada Kothapalli and Thondangi are the major fisherfolk belts where an alert has been sounded for heavy rain coupled with winds in the next 48 hours and the inhabitants along the shoreline are advised to move to the relief camps. The preparations are in place to provide food and safe drinking water in the relief camps under the aegis of the Revenue Department.