Cyclone Arnab is forecast to reach the Andhra Pradesh coast as a very severe cyclonic storm on October 28, 2026, while five districts in neighboring Odisha face a red alert for extremely heavy rainfall. Odisha has cancelled leave for disaster personnel and proposed deploying 225 rescue teams.

Key Takeaways

  • The forecast calls for the storm to cross the coast between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam by the forenoon of October 28.
  • Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri are under a red alert for that day.
  • Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea until October 29.

Cyclone Arnab forecast and Odisha warning

In its forecast on October 25, the India Meteorological Department expected the Bay of Bengal system to become a cyclonic storm by the following morning and a severe cyclonic storm on October 27. It was forecast to strengthen further before reaching the Andhra Pradesh coast.

At the expected coastal crossing, winds could reach 115–125 km/h, with gusts up to 140 km/h, said Manorama Mohanty, director of the Meteorological Centre in Bhubaneswar.

Although the forecast landfall is in Andhra Pradesh, Mohanty said Odisha would also be affected, particularly by rainfall. The five districts under the red alert could see isolated extremely heavy rainfall and winds of 50–60 km/h, gusting to 70 km/h, on October 28. She warned that landslides could occur in hilly areas.

Rescue preparations and maritime advice

Heavy to very heavy rain is also forecast for nine other Odisha districts on October 28, with widespread rainfall continuing into October 29 before easing substantially from October 30.

Odisha Chief Fire Officer Ramesh Majhi said authorities had proposed deploying 225 teams, equipped with 225 vehicles, across vulnerable areas. He said leave for personnel had been cancelled and teams were on high alert.

A distant cautionary signal has been hoisted at all Odisha ports. Along the state's coast, sea conditions are expected to be rough to very rough, with winds of 40–50 km/h and gusts up to 60 km/h.

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