A fresh severe meteorological threat over the Bay of Bengal is heading rapidly toward mainland India. Before regions could fully recover from the trail of destruction left behind by cyclone Arnab, the intensification of cyclonic storm Murasu has sounded alarms across the coastal belt of Andhra Pradesh. The meteorological network notes that the system is packing destructive energy as it tracks closer to the shore, threatening coastal districts with violent gales and spells of severe downpours.
Current Location and Trajectory of the Storm
Data from the India Meteorological Department indicates that around 8:30 am on Monday, the center of the storm was positioned over the west-central Bay of Bengal near latitude 14.1 degrees North and longitude 81.4 degrees East. Over the preceding six hours, the system charted a west-northwestward track at a forward speed of 22 kmph. In terms of distance from key coastal hubs, the center was tracked approximately 160 km southeast of Nellore, 180 km southeast of Kavali, 210 km southeast of Ongole, and 240 km south of Machilipatnam. It was also situated roughly 180 km northeast of Chennai, the capital city of Tamil Nadu.
Projected Landfall Window and Wind Strengths
Forecasters anticipate that the system will sustain its west-northwestward movement and cross the south Andhra Pradesh coastline as a severe cyclonic storm. The landfall process is projected to occur between 11:30 pm on Monday and 4:00 am on Tuesday. The storm is expected to cross between Nellore and Narsapur, specifically making landfall to the south of Ongole. During this crossing phase, sustained wind speeds ranging from 100 to 110 kmph are forecast, with peak gusts escalating up to 120 kmph across the impacted shoreline.
Threat of Inundation Following Prior Disasters
The landfall is predicted to bring torrential precipitation alongside damaging winds, creating major risks of flooding in low-lying coastal stretches. The regional concern is heightened because cyclone Arnab had recently inflicted severe damage across Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal, while also triggering widespread weather disruptions in Bihar, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh. With the arrival of Murasu hot on the heels of the previous disaster, local authorities and communities face an intense operational challenge to safeguard lives and infrastructure.
