Rough sea conditions prevail ahead of the expected landfall, in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
India is bracing for Cyclone Arnab as it moves towards the Andhra Pradesh coast, with landfall expected by Wednesday forenoon as authorities expect strong winds, heavy rainfall and possible flooding across several states.Cyclone Arnab is drawing attention not only for its projected impact along the Andhra Pradesh coast but also for its name.Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast maximum sustained wind speeds of 115-125 kmph, with gusts reaching 140 kmph, when the storm crosses the coast near Yanam, between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam. Its effects are expected in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh, prompting weather alerts and precautionary measures.
Why is it named Arnab? How storm naming works
The name Arnab was contributed by Bangladesh to the list of names used for tropical cyclones over the North Indian Ocean. It is pronounced “Ornab”.Cyclone names in the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea are assigned by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO)/United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) Panel on Tropical Cyclones. The naming system began in 2004, with the list subsequently expanded as more countries joined the panel.
The current list contains 52 names contributed by 13 countries: Bangladesh, India, Iran, Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. The list was adopted in April 2020.Names are used sequentially, column-wise, according to the established list. Each name is used only once and is not repeated in subsequent lists. The Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre in New Delhi, operated by the IMD, is responsible for naming cyclones that form over the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea once they reach the prescribed intensity.Naming storms helps meteorological agencies, governments, disaster management authorities and the public identify and communicate warnings about individual weather systems more easily.
Andhra Pradesh braces for landfall
The cyclone was centred over the west-central Bay of Bengal on Tuesday morning, moving west-northwestwards before its expected turn towards the coast. The Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) has warned of heavy rainfall in northern coastal districts, including Srikakulam, with strong winds already affecting parts of the coast.Authorities have identified 16 districts, covering 2,460 revenue villages and 92 urban areas, as potentially vulnerable. According to the state disaster management authorities, 1,763 cyclone shelters have been readied, 2,907 control rooms established and 3,185 nodal officers deployed. National and state disaster response teams have also been positioned in 11 high-risk districts.Authorities have banned public access to beaches and announced restrictions on coastal road movement.
Fishing vessels have been secured at harbours, with the APSDMA saying 30,043 fishing vessels have been anchored.Air India has warned that adverse weather could affect flights to and from Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada on October 27. Passengers have been advised to check their flight status and allow additional time for travel to airports.
Odisha, Jharkhand face heavy rain, strong winds
Odisha has already experienced heavy rain and strong winds in parts of the state.
The IMD has issued an orange warning for heavy to very heavy rainfall, ranging from 12 cm to 20 cm, in Puri, Gajapati, Ganjam, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri. A yellow warning has been issued for several other districts.Tourist boat and ferry operations at Chilika Lake have been suspended from October 26 to 29 as a precaution. Authorities have moved boats to safer locations, while Paradip Port has provided shelter to 305 fishermen at its Eastern Quay-1 berth.In Jharkhand, the state government has directed district administrations to remain vigilant. A yellow alert for heavy rain has been issued for several districts on October 28, followed by orange alerts for parts of the state through October 30. Thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds are also expected.The Ranchi district administration has warned of waterlogging, overflowing drains and water bodies, damage to weak structures and possible flood-like conditions in low-lying areas.
Standing crops could also be affected by water accumulation.
West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh also likely to see unseasonal rain
The cyclone's influence is expected to extend to West Bengal between October 28 and 30. In south Bengal, heavy rainfall is forecast in South 24 Parganas, Purba Medinipur, Paschim Medinipur, Jhargram, Purulia, Bankura and Paschim Bardhaman on October 28 and 29. Kolkata is likely to receive light to moderate rain over the next 48 hours.
In the sub-Himalayan region, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri are likely to experience heavy rain on October 29 and 30.
The IMD has also advised fishermen not to venture into the sea until October 29, warning of rough to very rough conditions and squally winds of 40-50 kmph, gusting up to 60 kmph, along and off the West Bengal coast.Uttar Pradesh is forecast to receive unseasonal rain, thunderstorms and strong winds between October 28 and 31. The IMD has issued alerts for several districts, with heavy rain possible in parts of eastern Uttar Pradesh, Awadh and the Terai region. Daytime temperatures could fall by 5-8 degrees Celsius in some areas on October 30.Authorities have advised residents to follow official weather bulletins, avoid unnecessary travel during storms and stay away from trees, electricity poles, weak structures and open fields during lightning.