IMD Weather Update: Cyclone Murasu to make landfall on November 3; Tamil Nadu, Odisha on high alert | Today’s news
Less than a week after Cyclone Arnab, another deep depression over the Bay of Bengal intensified into a cyclonic storm on Sunday, putting southern India on high alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall over the next three days.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), it will make landfall between Nellore and Narsapur in Andhra Pradesh on the morning of November 3 with wind speed of 100-110 kmph, gusts up to 120 kmph.
This cyclone was named ‘Murasu’ in India which means war drum.
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The IMD forecast said that Cyclone Murasu will cross the south coast of Andhra Pradesh between Nellore and Narsapur near Ongole. The expected landing period was around midnight on 2 November to the early hours of 3 November.
Winds are forecast to reach 100-110 km/h, with gusts of up to 120 km/h when the storm makes landfall.
The forecast covers Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Telangana, rainfall is also expected in areas like Puducherry, Karaikal, Kerala and Mahe. Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam were warned of isolated extremely heavy rain on November 2.
Murasu is the Tamil word for a traditional percussion drum. The article says it was historically used for public announcements across villages and kingdoms.
Khammam, Nalgonda, Suryapet, Mahabubnagar, Nagarkurnool and Wanaparthy districts have been issued an orange alert for isolated heavy rains on November 2.
The previous cyclone that hit coastal Andhra Pradesh and neighboring Odisha was Arnab. When it made landfall on October 28, it had wind speeds of up to 150 km/h.
Read also | Cyclone Murasu: When and where will the storm make landfall in Andhra Pradesh?
Areas affected by Cyclone Murasu
- Odisha
- Andhra Pradesh
- Tamil Nadu
- Telangana
- Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Check the IMD weather forecast
In its latest update, the weather agency said the deep depression has intensified into a severe cyclonic storm and is spread over the same area as of today – about 260 km east-northeast of Chennai (Tamil Nadu), 290 km east-southeast of Nellore (Andhra Pradesh), 320 km south-southeast of Prahilipat00 Andsh1 east-southeast of Kavali (Andhra Pradesh), 330 km south-east of Ongole (Andhra Pradesh) and 470 km south of Vishakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh).
The IMD said isolated extremely heavy rainfall is likely to occur over Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coast on November 2 under the influence of the system, followed by isolated very heavy rainfall on November 3.
The Met Dept has also forecast isolated heavy rainfall in Puducherry and Karaikal on November 2 and 3; in Kerala and Mahe from November 1 to 4; and over coastal and northern inland Karnataka on 3 November.
Read also | Cyclone Arnab: Several flights cancelled, trains suspended | Complete list here
Odisha on high alert
Manorama Mohanty, director of the meteorological center in Bhubaneswar, said that Odisha will receive rain from November 2, with intensity increasing on November 3 and continuing till November 4 under the influence of a cyclone.
The state has already sounded a high alert in the southern region, including Ganjam, which was badly hit by Cyclone Arnab.
“Red” alert in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu will remain on high alert after the Regional Meteorological Center warned of heavy to very heavy rainfall in the next three days.
Heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected at isolated places in Chennai and Tiruvallur on November 2, heavy rains will continue in Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Ranipet, Vellore and Nilgiris.
The intensity is expected to reduce on November 3 and the heavy rain will be confined to isolated places in the Nilgiris.
“The depression over southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas of Andaman and Nicobar Islands intensified into a deep depression and cyclonic storm ‘Murasu’ on Sunday,” the RMC said on Sunday.
“It is very likely to move west-northwestward and further intensify into a severe cyclonic storm over west-central Bay of Bengal around November 2 morning. It is then likely to cross the south coast of Andhra Pradesh between Nellore and Narsapur in the early hours of November 3,” it added.
Read also | Cyclone ‘Murasu’: Telangana issues orange alert for 6 districts
Rain alert in Telangana
The meteorological center in Hyderabad has issued an orange and yellow warning for several districts in the southern region on November 2.
Orange alert for heavy rain has been issued for isolated places in Telangana’s Khammam, Nalgonda, Suryapet, Mahabubnagar, Nagarkurnool and Wanaparthy districts.
A yellow alert has been issued for Jangaon, Yadadri Bhuvanagiri, Rangareddy, Hyderabad and Medchal-Malkajgiri districts in Telangana.
Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds of 30-40 kmph are very likely at isolated places in Khammam, Nalgonda, Siddipet, Yadadri Bhuvanagiri, Rangareddy, Hyderabad, Medchal-Malkajigiri, Mahabubnagar, Nagarkurnool, Wanaparthy, Hanakonda Mahababuy, Jangaon, Vikarabad, Sangareddy, Medak, Kamareddy, Narayanpet and Jogulamba. Gadwal Districts of Telangana.
