Cyclone Murasu intensifies into severe cyclonic storm over Bay of Bengal
The storm is expected to make landfall near Ongole between late Monday night and early Tuesday morning.
Cyclonic Storm Murasu intensified into a severe cyclonic storm over the west-central and southwest Bay of Bengal in the early hours of Monday, November 2, according to The Hindu. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that the system moved west-northwestwards at a speed of 22 kmph during the six hours preceding 8:30 am IST.
The storm is projected to cross the south Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Narsapur, near Ongole. Landfall is expected to occur from approximately 11:30 pm on November 2 to the early hours of November 3. The system may bring wind speeds of 100 to 110 kmph, with gusts reaching 120 kmph.
The IMD has issued a red alert for extremely heavy rainfall on Monday for the Eluru, Krishna, Guntur, Bapatla, and SPSR Nellore districts. An orange alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall has been issued for NTR, East Godavari, West Godavari, Palnadu, Chittoor, and Tirupati districts.
Southern Odisha is also expected to receive 7 to 20 cm of rainfall on November 2 and 3. Wind speeds in Odisha may reach 50 to 60 kmph, with gusts up to 70 kmph on November 3. The National Disaster Response Force and Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force have been placed on standby in vulnerable areas.