Cyclone Arnab becomes very severe cyclonic storm, heads for Andhra coast
Why in the news
Cyclone Arnab strengthened from a severe cyclonic storm into a very severe cyclonic storm at 2:30 am on 27 October 2026, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.
Key facts
- Landfall: Expected between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, near Yanam, during the forenoon of 28 October 2026.
- Wind speed: Sustained 125-135 km/h, gusting to 150 km/h, at landfall.
- It moved westwards at 23 km/h on 26 October and was about 380 km south of Gopalpur.
- Fishermen: Advised to stay off the sea until the morning of 30 October.
- Railways: South Central Railway cancelled 11 trains and South Coast Railway cancelled 61.
- IMD issued a red alert for four Telangana districts, including Khammam, for 28 October; Odisha was warned of heavy to extremely heavy rain.
| Port warning signal | Ports |
|---|---|
| GD-10 (Great Danger) | Kakinada |
| GD-9 | Visakhapatnam, Gangavaram |
| GD-8 | Machilipatnam, Nizampatnam |
| LC-3 (Local Cautionary) | Kalingapatnam, Krishnapatnam, Vadarevu |
About the preparedness measures
South Central Railway placed accident relief trains, medical equipment and boulder, sandbag and ballast rakes at Kazipet and Dornakal, and said passengers would get SMS updates. Heavy rain was also forecast for Warangal, Hanumakonda, Suryapet and Nalgonda on 28-29 October.
Exam angle
- Classification ladder: severe cyclonic storm, then very severe cyclonic storm.
- Forecast and warnings were issued by IMD, including its Cyclone Warning Centre and Bhubaneswar office.
- Kakinada carried GD-10, the Great Danger Signal; fishermen were barred until 30 October.