The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that a low-pressure system over the east-central and adjoining south-east Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify and move north-westwards, with a possible cyclonic storm affecting the northern Andhra Pradesh and southern Odisha coasts around October 27–28.
Intensity, timeline and likely track
The IMD's projected sequence for the developing system is that it could become a depression by Saturday, deepen into a deep depression by Sunday and reach cyclonic storm strength on Monday morning. The precise landfall point remains uncertain, but the broad possible crossing zone extends along the Andhra coast from West Godavari to Srikakulam districts.
The Amaravati Meteorological Centre cautioned that the system may strengthen significantly. K. Naga Ratna, head of the centre, said the storm could cross the Andhra Pradesh coast in the early hours of October 28 and then move towards Odisha.
"The system could intensify into a severe or very severe cyclonic storm, with wind speeds potentially reaching 145 km/h. Gusts could reach 185 km/h, while sea surges of one to two metres are possible along the coast," the Amaravati Met Centre head said.
Warnings, alerts and likely impacts
The IMD has issued district-level advisories and colour-coded alerts for coastal Andhra Pradesh as the system approaches. For October 27 and 28 the Meteorological Department has flagged the possibility of extremely heavy rainfall and very strong winds that may cause flooding and coastal inundation.
- Red alert: Several districts in Andhra Pradesh for extremely heavy rain on October 27–28 (including Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli, Alluri Sitarama Raju, Kakinada, East Godavari, Konaseema and West Godavari on October 28).
- Orange/Yellow alerts: Surrounding districts such as Srikakulam, Parvathipuram-Manyam, Vizianagaram, Eluru and Krishna have been placed under orange or yellow alerts for heavy to extremely heavy rainfall on October 27–28.
- Marine hazard: Gale to storm-force winds and a possible 1–2 metre sea surge along the coast are being reported as a risk.
Operational advice and immediate precautions
The IMD and state authorities are monitoring the system closely. Practical measures that should be prioritised by administrations and residents in the threatened coastal belt include:
- Issuing and following evacuation orders for low-lying and flood-prone areas.
- Securing boats, fishing craft and coastal infrastructure; advising fishermen to return to shore and not venture into the sea.
- Preparing relief shelters, emergency supplies and power-backup for critical services.
- Monitoring official IMD bulletins and local administration advisories for revised forecasts and warnings.
Local transport and port operations should anticipate disruptions; heavy rainfall may cause waterlogging, landslips in vulnerable terrain and disruption to road and rail services. The combination of strong winds, heavy rain and high seas increases the threat to coastal communities and infrastructure.
| Date | Expected development | Primary hazards |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 25–26 | Low-pressure area over Bay of Bengal; consolidation | Heavy rain in parts of Odisha/Andhra (precursor showers) |
| Oct 26–27 | Depression → Deep depression | Strong winds; heavy to very heavy rain on exposed coasts |
| Oct 27–28 | Likely cyclonic storm; possible landfall around Oct 28 | Extremely heavy rain, gusts up to 185 km/h, sea surge 1–2 m |
The IMD emphasises that forecast intensity and exact track remain subject to change as the system evolves. Residents and authorities should treat the current outlook as a warning-level advisory and prepare accordingly; this is not a distant watch but a developing event with potential for rapid escalation.
State disaster management and coastal district administrations are expected to keep rescue and relief forces on alert and disseminate real-time advisories. Fisherfolk and mariners in the Bay of Bengal have been specifically urged to avoid sailing until the system's behaviour is clarified.
Further updates will be issued by the IMD as stronger observational evidence becomes available and the system's track and intensity are refined.
