India’s Meteorological Department (IMD) upgraded the east‑central Bay of Bengal disturbance to Cyclone Arnab on Monday, October 26, 2026. The agency projected that the system would strengthen into a severe cyclonic storm by midnight on the same day and reach very severe cyclonic storm status by October 27. Forecasts indicated a landfall on the Andhra Pradesh‑Yanam coastline between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam by the forenoon of October 28, with sustained winds of 115‑125 km/h and gusts up to 140 km/h.
Storm development and forecast trajectory
According to the IMD bulletin issued at 8:20 a.m., the deep depression that had been moving westward at about 15 km per hour over the past six hours intensified into a cyclonic storm centered over the east‑central and adjoining west‑central Bay of Bengal. Subsequent updates placed the centre approximately 590 km northwest of the Andaman Islands, 650 km east‑southeast of Visakhapatnam, 730 km east‑southeast of Kakinada, 830 km east of Machilipatnam and 910 km east of Bapatla. The agency warned that the system would continue moving west‑northwestward, intensifying further as it approached the Indian coastline.
Prakhar Jain, Managing Director of the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA), confirmed that Arnab was moving at 15 km per hour and was then 610 km from Visakhapatnam, 690 km from Kakinada, 790 km from Machilipatnam and 860 km from Bapatla. He reiterated the IMD’s projection that the cyclone would become a very severe cyclonic storm by October 27 and cross the coast by October 28.
State‑level preparations and emergency measures
The Andhra Pradesh government activated its State Emergency Operations Centre in Tadepalli, Guntur district, to monitor Arnarn’s progress. Officials issued a red‑message cyclone warning for the Andhra Pradesh coast and adjoining south‑Odisha shoreline. The warning prompted a series of precautionary actions across multiple sectors.
The Andhra Pradesh Eastern Power Distribution Company Limited (APEPDCL) mobilised personnel, machinery and essential electrical materials to safeguard power supply in the most vulnerable districts—Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Konaseema, Godavari and Kakinada. The utility opened 30 divisional control rooms and 11 circle‑level control rooms to coordinate response, with three divisional rooms each in Kakinada and East Godavari and two in Konaseema.
In the fisheries sector, more than 4,800 fishing vessels were recalled from the Bay of Bengal and safely anchored at Kakinada harbour and other landing centres following directives from the Fisheries Department, the Indian Coast Guard and district authorities. Kakinada District Fisheries Officer V. Krishna Rao confirmed that all marine fishing activity had been halted until further notice.
Odisha’s government, anticipating peripheral effects, banned sea‑based fishing and restricted tourist entry to hills, waterfalls and dams across six districts. The measures were announced on the same day as the AP alerts, reflecting a coordinated regional response to the approaching storm.
State Election Commissioner Anil Chandra Punetha met with APSDMA Managing Director Prakhar Jain to discuss contingency plans for the urban local body elections scheduled for November 1. The discussion focused on ensuring that the elections could proceed on schedule despite the expected disruption from Arnab.
Impact on Tamil Nadu and other affected areas
While Arnab was expected to make landfall on the Andhra coast, the northeast monsoon continued to intensify over Tamil Nadu. A red alert was issued for Kodaikanal, prompting tourists to vacate the hill station. Over 20 houses in the Moonjikkal‑Dobikana (Topikkanal) area were flooded, and residents reported sleepless nights protecting belongings and livestock.
Coimbatore city experienced heavy rain that began on the afternoon of Sunday, October 26, and persisted into the night. Streets near Selvachinthamani lake along Sundakkamuthur Road were inundated, with knee‑deep water reported in some stretches. Rainwater also entered homes in Selvapuram, highlighting the widespread disruption caused by the monsoon rains.
In Chennai, the Highways Department prepared 5,000 bags of cold mix to repair road damage caused by recent rains. Approximately 43 km of the city’s 650 km road network had suffered damage, including potholes and eroded top layers, prompting crews to mobilise men and machinery while awaiting a dry spell for full repairs.
Overall, the combined effect of the strengthening cyclone and the ongoing monsoon created a multi‑state emergency scenario. Authorities across Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Tamil Nadu coordinated alerts, infrastructure safeguards and public advisories to mitigate potential loss of life and property.
As of the latest updates on Monday, October 26, no major rainfall had been reported from Andhra Pradesh, and the IMD had not issued specific rainfall alerts for the state on that day. Nonetheless, the red‑message warning and the projected intensity of the storm underscored the need for continued vigilance as Arnab approached the coastline.
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