Cyclone Murasu Makes Landfall in Andhra Pradesh; 120 Kmph Winds and Heavy Rain Batter Coastal Regions

Cyclone Murasu Begins Landfall Near Ongole, Andhra Pradesh Braces for Heavy Rain and 120 Kmph Winds

Severe Cyclonic Storm Murasu began making landfall along the Andhra Pradesh coast near Ongole in Prakasam district early Tuesday, triggering heavy rainfall, powerful winds and rough sea conditions across coastal regions.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the landfall process started at around 1 am on November 3, with sustained wind speeds reaching 110 kmph and gusts touching 120 kmph. The weather department said the cyclone’s outer wall cloud had started moving over the coastline.

Heavy downpours and strong winds were reported in Ongole and neighbouring areas as the storm moved closer to the coast.

Coastal Andhra Faces Heavy Rain and High Waves

At around 1:30 am, Cyclone Murasu was positioned over the west-central Bay of Bengal, close to the south Andhra Pradesh coast. Its centre was approximately 40 km southeast of Ongole, 60 km northeast of Kavali and 70 km south of Bapatla.

The approaching cyclone triggered high tides and turbulent sea conditions along the coastline. The IMD warned that gale-force winds of 110 kmph, accompanied by gusts of up to 120 kmph, could continue along and off the coast until Wednesday morning.

Storm Surge Alert for Low-Lying Coastal Areas

The IMD issued a warning of heavy rainfall at several locations across South Coastal Andhra Pradesh during the following 12 hours.

A storm surge of around 1 to 1.5 metres above the normal astronomical tide was also forecast, raising the possibility of flooding in vulnerable low-lying coastal areas. Bapatla, Krishna and Prakasam districts were identified as particularly vulnerable to the impact of the rising seawater.

Puducherry and North Tamil Nadu Also Affected

The cyclone’s impact extended beyond Andhra Pradesh, with neighbouring regions also experiencing adverse weather conditions. Puducherry witnessed continuous rainfall from midnight, disrupting normal activities in several areas.

The outer rain bands of Cyclone Murasu were also affecting parts of North Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, bringing widespread showers.

Earlier, the IMD had forecast that the system could intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm before crossing the Andhra Pradesh coastline between Nellore and Narsapur, in the vicinity of Ongole.