Severe Cyclone Arnab poised for Andhra Pradesh landfall early Sunday

A powerful cyclonic system is bearing down on India's eastern coast as forecasters issue final warnings ahead of an imminent landfall. The India Meteorological Department has pinpointed a narrow window between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. on October 28 for Cyclone Arnab to make landfall along the Andhra Pradesh coastline.

The system has intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm, capable of generating destructive surface winds. The IMD has warned that peak wind speeds could reach 135 kilometres per hour during the landfall phase, with more violent gusts potentially exceeding 150 kmph. Such wind velocities pose significant risks to structures, vegetation, and maritime operations in the affected region.

Authorities have ramped up preparedness measures across vulnerable coastal districts as residents in the projected impact zone prepare for the storm's arrival. The narrow timeframe for landfall leaves little margin for error, with emergency response teams positioned to respond once the system makes contact with land. Weather updates from the IMD continue to be issued at regular intervals as the cyclone advances toward the coast.

Maritime authorities have advised fishing vessels and coastal shipping to seek shelter, while residents in low-lying and storm-surge-prone areas have been advised to move to safer ground. The cyclone's track and intensity remain under close observation by meteorological agencies monitoring satellite imagery and other real-time data.

Photo: Satellite view of Cyclonic Storm Arnab over the Bay of Bengal, 26 October 2026. NOAA-20 VIIRS imagery from NASA Worldview via Wikimedia Commons (public domain).