Impact of cyclone 'Arnab'
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) informed on Tuesday that cyclone 'Arnab', which originated in the Bay of Bengal, has rapidly intensified into an 'extremely severe cyclonic storm'. Due to this, there is a possibility of heavy rain in many coastal areas today (27 October) and tomorrow 28 October. The department has issued a 'red alert' for coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha.
According to the Meteorological Department, the cyclone reached the 'severe cyclonic storm' category on the evening of 26 October and turned into an 'extremely severe cyclonic storm' at midnight. At 8:30 am on Tuesday it was located about 220 km south-southeast of Visakhapatnam.
The Meteorological Department estimates that cyclone 'Arnab' will move in the west-northwest direction till the evening of October 27 and then turn in the north-west direction. It may cross Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts by morning/forenoon of October 28. The maximum wind speed on the coast is likely to be 125 to 135 km per hour, which can increase up to 150 km per hour.
The weather department has warned that coastal Andhra Pradesh may receive light to moderate rain with heavy to very heavy rainfall (7-20 cm) at a few places and extremely heavy rainfall (more than 21 cm) at a few places on Tuesday and Wednesday. There is a possibility of heavy rain in northern coastal Andhra Pradesh on Thursday.
Heavy to very heavy and extremely heavy rainfall is expected over South Odisha on Tuesday, while heavy rainfall is likely over North Odisha. Extremely heavy rain is expected in South Odisha and very heavy rain in North Odisha on Wednesday also.
There may be heavy rain in South Chhattisgarh on Tuesday, while on October 28, light to moderate rain is expected at most places and extremely heavy rain in South Chhattisgarh. There will be heavy to very heavy rain in North Chhattisgarh on October 29.
There is a possibility of heavy to very heavy rain in eastern parts of Telangana on October 28. Heavy to very heavy rain is forecast in Jharkhand on 28 and 29 October.
Heavy rain is likely over coastal districts of West Bengal on October 28 and 29, while heavy rain is expected over Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim on October 29 and 30.
East Vidarbha will receive heavy to very heavy rain on October 28. An alert of heavy to very heavy rain has been issued in East Madhya Pradesh during 28, 29 and 30 October.
Besides, heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely over various parts of eastern and north-eastern Uttar Pradesh between October 29 and 31. Bihar may also receive heavy to very heavy rain on 29th and 30th October.