Cyclone Arnab: Coastal Residents Urged to Follow Weather Advisories

Cyclone Arnab over the west-central Bay of Bengal is moving towards the coast, raising concerns across Andhra Pradesh’s coastal districts. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the system has been moving west-northwestwards at around 20 kmph over the past six hours. In its latest update cited in the report, the weather department placed the cyclone about 220 km southeast of Visakhapatnam, 240 km from Kakinada, 340 km from Machilipatnam, 410 km from Bapatla and 370 km from Gopalpur in Odisha.

The IMD reportedly forecast that the cyclone could cross the coast between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam on Wednesday morning, with Yanam among the areas being closely watched. The system was also expected to intensify into an extremely severe cyclonic storm, potentially bringing sustained winds of 125–135 kmph and gusts reaching 150 kmph. Residents in coastal areas should follow official weather bulletins and local administration advisories, and take precautions as directed.