Cyclone Murasu intensifies into severe storm, to hit Andhra coast with winds up to 120 kmph

Cyclone Murasu has intensified into a severe cyclonic storm over the west-central and adjoining south-west Bay of Bengal, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting landfall along the south Andhra Pradesh coast between late Monday night and the early hours of Tuesday, November 3.

The storm is expected to cross the coast between Nellore and Narsapur, close to Ongole, with sustained wind speeds of 100-110 kmph and gusts reaching 120 kmph, the weather department said in its latest bulletin on November 2.

At 5.30 am on Monday, the system was centred over the west-central and adjoining south-west Bay of Bengal, approximately 200 km east-north-east of Chennai, 210 km east-south-east of Nellore, 270 km south-south-east of Machilipatnam, 220 km east-south-east of Kavali and 260 km south-east of Ongole.

It had moved west-north-westwards at a speed of 25 kmph during the preceding six hours. The IMD said it was very likely to maintain its north-westward trajectory before crossing the Andhra Pradesh coast.

Heavy rainfall forecast for Andhra Pradesh and Odisha

The approaching cyclone is expected to bring widespread rainfall to coastal areas, with the IMD issuing forecasts of heavy to very heavy rain at isolated places over the next two days.

In south Odisha, light to moderate rainfall is likely at many places, accompanied by heavy rainfall at isolated locations on November 2. The intensity is expected to increase on November 3 and 4, when light to moderate rain is forecast at most places, with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated locations.

The IMD has also forecast light to moderate rainfall at many places, with heavy to very heavy rain at isolated locations on November 2. For November 3, similar rainfall activity is expected at most places, with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated locations.

Chennai records over 76 mm of rain

Meanwhile, Chennai and neighbouring areas in Tamil Nadu have been receiving rainfall under the influence of the north-east monsoon.

According to the Chennai Corporation's Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC), the city recorded an average rainfall of 76.07 mm in the 24 hours ending at 6 am on November 2.

The cyclone's proximity to the Tamil Nadu coast has also prompted attention to weather conditions in the state's coastal districts, even as the system is forecast to make landfall further north in Andhra Pradesh.