Cyclonic storm Murasu to intensify into severe storm by Monday
The Andhra Pradesh government has increased preparedness as the storm is expected to cross the south coast with wind speeds of 120kmph.
The deep depression over southwest Bay of Bengal intensified into cyclonic storm Murasu on Sunday morning and is expected to become a severe cyclonic storm by Monday, according to the weather agency.
The system is likely to cross the south Andhra coast between Nellore and Narsapur during the midnight of November 2 to the early hours of November 3, with wind speeds of 100 to 110kmph gusting at 120kmph.
The weather agency stated that Murasu moved west-northwestwards at 27kmph during the past six hours and was centred about 480km east-southeast of Chennai on Sunday.
A red alert for extremely heavy rainfall was issued for Monday in Krishna, Guntur, Bapatla, Prakasam and Nellore districts. An orange alert was issued for seven districts including East Godavari, West Godavari, Eluru, NTR, Palnadu, Tirupati and Chittoor.
For Tuesday, November 3, a red alert was issued for ASR, Eluru and NTR districts, while an orange alert was issued for Chittoor, Annamayya, Tirupati, Nellore, Prakasam, Palnadu and Vizianagaram.
Heavy rainfall is expected across various districts on Tuesday, including Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam and Kurnool, while parts of Nellore, Prakasam, Bapatla, Guntur and Krishna may receive heavy rain on Wednesday, November 4.