The Bay of Bengal is facing another potential cyclone threat days after Cyclone Arnab battered parts of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. A well-marked low-pressure area over the southeast Bay of Bengal is likely to develop into a depression within six hours and further intensify into a cyclonic storm within the next 24 hours, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Saturday.
The weather system is expected to move west-northwestwards and reach the west-central Bay of Bengal, near the Andhra Pradesh coast, by the evening of November 2.
Andhra Pradesh, Odisha placed under rainfall alert
The IMD has warned of extremely heavy rainfall in isolated areas of coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam on November 2. Very heavy rain is likely in these regions on November 3.
Rayalaseema is also expected to receive very heavy rainfall on November 2 and 3, while parts of Odisha are under a heavy rainfall alert for November 3 and 4.
In a post on X, the weather department said: "Well-Marked Low Pressure Area over Southeast Bay of Bengal Likely to Intensify into a Depression within 6 Hours and Further into a Cyclonic Storm within 24 Hours; Expected to Move West-Northwestwards and Reach West-central Bay of Bengal Near Andhra Pradesh Coast by the Evening of 2 November 2026,"
Cyclone Arnab aftermath: Search for missing people continues
The fresh alert comes as Odisha continues rescue operations following a landslide triggered by heavy rain associated with Cyclone Arnab. The storm made landfall on October 28 between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, with sustained winds of around 130 kmph.
The cyclone uprooted trees, flooded homes and agricultural fields, and disrupted transport and electricity services. Fishing activities were also restricted.
A landslide at Gidipabali village in Ganjam district left 12 people missing, prompting a search operation involving more than 150 personnel from the NDRF, Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force and Special Operation Group.
Special Relief Commissioner Rajesh P Patil said 13 of the village's 26 residents escaped. One missing person was subsequently traced, while the search for the others continued from Friday night. The landslide was among 10 reported incidents triggered by incessant rainfall. Hundreds of villages in southern Odisha were inundated.