The Meteorological Department said on Tuesday that the very severe cyclonic storm is likely to make landfall early on Wednesday. Cyclone Arnab LIVE Updates: Cyclone Arnab is moving faster than expected, and it is now set to reach the coast in the early hours of Wednesday.
Cyclone Arnab LIVE Updates: Landfall Expected After 2 am
The system is over the west-central Bay of Bengal. The Met Department observed that Arnab is interacting with the land surface and that the outer spiral band has entered the land. It also explained why the timing has moved up. The decision follows a warning by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority urging tourists to avoid travelling to these areas during the three days.
The crossing is expected between 2 am and 4 am. In the six hours up to 5:30 pm on Tuesday, it moved west to northwest at 18 kmph, the Met Department said. Nepal’s Department of Immigration has suspended the issuance of trekking permits for restricted areas in the high-hill and Himalayan regions for October 29–31, citing a high risk of heavy snowfall, snowstorms and avalanches. A special post-monsoon bulletin issued by the Nepal Meteorological Department said earlier that Cyclone Arnab in the Bay of Bengal was gaining strength and was expected to bring heavy rainfall, strong winds and a high risk of snowfall and avalanches across several parts of the Himalayan country. (IANS) Andhra Pradesh Energy Minister Gottipati Ravi Kumar on Tuesday directed power utilities to remain on high alert and prioritise public safety amid Cyclone Arnab threat, with around 6,000 personnel mobilised to minimise loss of life and damage to property.
The storm will cross the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, according to a Met Department update. “It is very likely to continue to move nearly west-northwestwards during the next few hours, then northwestwards and cross Andhra Pradesh & Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, close to south of Yanam as a very severe cyclonic storm with the maximum sustained wind speed of 125-135 kmph (and) gusting to 150 kmph during early hours of October 28,” it said. “Due to faster movement, the landfall of the cyclone is expected early, likely during early hours around 2 am to 4 am on Wednesday”, it added. Odisha closed schools in 16 of its 30 districts and raced against time to move people in vulnerable areas to safety amid heavy rains and strong winds preceding the “very severe” cyclonic storm Arnab’s expected landfall on the Andhra Pradesh coast early Wednesday.
