Bhubaneswar, Oct 26: Cyclonic Storm ‘Arnab’ (pronounced Ornab), moving west-northwestwards over the eastcentral and adjoining westcentral Bay of Bengal, is likely to intensify into a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm before crossing the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts by the forenoon of October 28, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Monday.
At 8.30 am on October 26, the system was centred near latitude 15.4°N and longitude 88.5°E, about 580 km southeast of Gopalpur in Odisha. It was moving at 15 kmph, with maximum sustained winds of 65–75 kmph and gusts reaching 85 kmph.
The IMD forecast that the storm would intensify into a Severe Cyclonic Storm by Monday evening and a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm by October 27. It is expected to cross the coast between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, close to Yanam, with wind speeds of 115–125 kmph, gusting to 140 kmph.
The IMD has issued a Red warning for Gajapati, Ganjam, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri for October 28–29. Heavy to very heavy rainfall, with extremely heavy showers at isolated places, is likely. Thunderstorms and gusty winds of 60–70 kmph, reaching 80 kmph, are also forecast.
An Orange warning has been issued for Puri, Gajapati, Ganjam, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri for October 27–28, with heavy to very heavy rainfall and gusty winds. Yellow warnings cover several other districts, including Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Khordha and Nayagarh.
For October 29–30, heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely in Sundargarh, Jharsuguda and Bargarh, which are under an Orange warning.
The system is expected to weaken after landfall, gradually declining into a Deep Depression and subsequently a low-pressure area. Residents have been advised to monitor official weather bulletins and follow instructions issued by local authorities.
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