Cyclone Arnab tracker: Storm makes landfall in Andhra Pradesh with winds up to 185 kmph, thousands evacuated; airline advisory issued

Cyclone Arnab crossed the Andhra Pradesh coast early Wednesday, October 28, bringing strong winds, heavy to very heavy rainfall and the threat of storm surges and flash floods, officials said. At least 89,000 people had been evacuated from vulnerable areas ahead of landfall, while flight operations were suspended at Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada and Rajahmundry as the storm disrupted transport and daily life.

Prakhar Jain, head of Andhra Pradesh’s disaster management authority, told the Associated Press (AP) that the cyclone had weakened slightly before landfall but still carried peak winds of up to 185 kmph. Officials expected it to weaken further as it moved inland, with wind speeds likely to fall to around 110 kmph later in the day, AP reported. There were no immediate reports of casualties.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned that heavy rainfall and strong winds would continue along the Andhra Pradesh coast and parts of southern Odisha for the next four hours. IMD chief Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said the storm’s leading edge had entered land and the landfall process would take around four hours.


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Cyclone Arnab tracker: What is the latest update on the storm?

Amaravati Meteorological Department director Dr K. Nagaratna said the cyclone had made landfall overnight between Bapatla and Yanam, in the vicinity of the Visakhapatnam and Kakinada-Yanam coastal belt, according to ANI.

The storm had intensified over the Bay of Bengal before moving towards the coast, with its outer bands beginning to affect parts of Andhra Pradesh late Tuesday. Officials said the cyclone’s movement had slowed, potentially prolonging its impact on coastal areas.

Wind estimates differed across official updates and reports. Nagaratna said winds of 125-135 kmph were blowing along the coast, with gusts potentially reaching 150 kmph over the following three hours. AP, meanwhile, reported peak winds of up to 185 kmph before landfall.

The IMD had classified the system as a very severe cyclonic storm late Tuesday. Authorities warned that strong winds and heavy rainfall could continue to affect coastal districts even after the storm moved inland.

Flash flood alerts and storm surge threat

The IMD issued flash flood alerts for 15 Andhra Pradesh districts: Bapatla, Guntur, Krishna, NTR, Eluru, West Godavari, Konaseema, East Godavari, Kakinada, Alluri, Anakapalli, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam and Parvathipuram Manyam.

Nagaratna warned that flash floods could occur at any time in these districts. She urged residents to remain indoors until the landfall process was complete and strong winds subsided. People were also advised to avoid standing beneath electric poles, old buildings and large trees, and to follow official advisories.

The sea was extremely turbulent along the Kakinada and Yanam coasts, with waves rising up to 2.5 metres above normal levels, Nagaratna said. She warned of a possible severe storm surge that could push seawater into low-lying areas around Kakinada and Yanam.

In Visakhapatnam, strong winds and high tides affected RK Beach, where police restricted public access as a precaution. Fishermen were advised not to venture into the sea. A tree was also uprooted near Andhra University’s College of Engineering for Women due to strong winds.

Heavy rain and waterlogging in Vijayawada

Heavy rain accompanied by thunder, lightning and gusty winds lashed Vijayawada and surrounding areas under the cyclone’s influence. Several low-lying areas and major roads were waterlogged following the downpour.

Officials said moderate to heavy rainfall was likely to continue through Wednesday. Residents were advised to avoid unnecessary travel and stay away from trees and electric poles.

The Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority said it was closely monitoring the cyclone’s movement and its impact on coastal districts, where strong winds and heavy rainfall had been reported.

89,000 evacuated in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha prepares for impact

Authorities placed Andhra Pradesh’s coastal districts on high alert ahead of landfall and began evacuating residents from low-lying and flood-prone areas. According to an official statement cited in the AP report, at least 89,000 people had been evacuated.

Jain told AP, as reported by the Press Trust of India (PTI), that authorities had established more than 2,000 cyclone shelters across 20 districts and sent emergency alerts to millions of residents’ mobile phones. More than 30,000 fishing boats had been secured along the coast, while nearly 1,100 medical teams were deployed to provide emergency assistance.

The state disaster management authority said more than 12 million people lived along the cyclone’s expected path.

In neighbouring Odisha, officials planned to evacuate around 48,000 people from areas likely to be affected by the storm. The IMD also warned of continued heavy rainfall and strong winds in parts of southern Odisha.

Flight cancellations and travel advisory

Cyclone Arnab disrupted flight operations across Andhra Pradesh. Services at Visakhapatnam airport were suspended from the afternoon of Tuesday, October 27, while operations at Vijayawada and Rajahmundry were suspended after 7 pm.

Air India, Air India Express, IndiGo and Akasa Air announced flight cancellations. Alliance Air reported that its operations were normal.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation advised passengers to check their flight status before leaving for airports and asked airlines to assist travellers affected by cancellations.

Authorities continued to monitor the storm and urged residents in vulnerable areas to follow official warnings, avoid unnecessary movement and remain in safe locations as the cyclone’s effects persisted.