Arnab becomes ‘very severe cyclonic storm’, light showers begin in north Andhra

Srikakulam district has received widespread rain overnight, as the Severe Cyclonic Storm (SCS) ‘Arnab’ strengthened into a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm (VSCS) at around 11.30 p.m. on Monday (October 26, 2026).

According to latest information from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Amaravati, the system lay centred at 2.30 a.m. over Westcentral Bay of Bengal, at around 300 km southeast of Vishakhapatnam, 360 km east-southeast of Kakinada, 380 km south of Gopalpur of Odisha, 460 km east of Machilipatnam, 530 km east of Bapatla and 920 km west-northwest of Sri Vijaya Puram of the Andaman Islands

Cyclone Arnab LIVE updates on October 27, 2026

The system may continue to move west-northwestwards till October 27 evening, and thereafter the system may cross the coast, close to Yanam, by Wednesday (October 28, 2026) forenoon.

Pointing to the thick cloud formation near the northern part of the State, the weather experts said while the rainfall activity has begun in the north, it will reach the central parts of A.P. by afternoon.

According to information from the Directorate of Economics and Statistics (DES), 41 stations in Srikakulam district received light to moderate showers on the intervening night of October 26-27. The highest of 41 mm was recorded in Palasa until 8 a.m.

At 8 a.m., the IMD, Amaravati, has forecast moderate rain, with squally wind speed reaching 50-60 kmph, over Anakapalli, Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram districts in the next three hours.