Cyclone Arnab Set to Hit Andhra Coast on October 28

Expected Landfall between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, close to Yanam, by the forenoon of October 28, 2026

CNB WORLD TIMES

Cyclonic Storm Arnab (pronounced Ornab) intensified over the eastcentral and adjoining westcentral Bay of Bengal and was located near latitude 15.4°N and longitude 88.5°E at 8:30 am IST on October 26, 2026, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The storm moved westwards at a speed of 15 kmph during the preceding six hours. It is very likely to move west-northwestwards and intensify into a severe cyclonic storm over the westcentral Bay of Bengal by midnight on October 26, followed by further intensification into a very severe cyclonic storm on October 27.

Current Position and Distance from Major Locations

According to the IMD bulletin issued for 8:30 am IST on October 26, Cyclone Arnab was located at the following approximate distances from major locations:

• Gopalpur, Odisha: 580 km southeast
• Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh: 610 km east-southeast
• Sri Vijaya Puram, Andaman and Nicobar Islands: 620 km northwest
• Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh: 690 km east-southeast
• Machilipatnam, Andhra Pradesh: 790 km east-southeast
• Bapatla, Andhra Pradesh: 860 km east-southeast

Expected Landfall and Wind Speed

The IMD has forecast that Cyclone Arnab will move northwestwards and cross the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, close to Yanam, by the forenoon of October 28, 2026. At the time of landfall, the system is expected to have maximum sustained wind speeds of 115–125 kmph, gusting to 140 kmph.

Heavy Rainfall Warning

The cyclone is likely to bring extremely heavy rainfall to several states over the coming days. Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam may experience isolated extremely heavy rainfall on October 27 and 28. Odisha is likely to receive extremely heavy rainfall on October 28, while Chhattisgarh is under warning for October 28 and 29. Isolated extremely heavy rainfall is also forecast over East Uttar Pradesh on October 29.

Heavy to very heavy rainfall is also likely over Odisha on October 27 and 29; Vidarbha and Telangana on October 28; East Madhya Pradesh on October 28; Jharkhand on October 29; and Bihar on October 29 and 30. East Uttar Pradesh may also receive heavy to very heavy rainfall on October 30.

The IMD has advised people in the affected regions to follow official weather bulletins and local administration advisories as the cyclone intensifies and approaches the coast.