Cyclone Arnab threatens Andhra coast as authorities prepare evacuations
Where it stands
Cyclone Arnab is approaching India’s east coast, with dangerous winds, heavy rain and coastal flooding expected. IMD’s forecast issued at 16:00 IST on 26 October places landfall near Yanam on the morning of 28 October 2026. The forecast crossing area lies between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, along the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts. The storm was still over the Bay of Bengal at the latest observation used in that bulletin. IMD expects it to strengthen before reaching the coast. Forecast winds at landfall are 115–125 kilometres per hour, with gusts reaching 140. These are predicted conditions, not measurements of a landfall that has already happened. For people in low-lying coastal settlements, rising seawater adds to the danger from wind and rain. IMD forecasts a storm surge of 1.0–1.5 metres above the normal tide along vulnerable parts of the Andhra coast. Authorities in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha are preparing shelters, evacuation arrangements and rescue teams. The practical priority is to move exposed communities before roads become unsafe. Heavy rain can also affect inland areas as the system moves across land. Local evacuation orders and later IMD warnings matter because the track, timing and affected areas can change.
Background
A tropical cyclone draws energy from warm seawater. Moist air rises, cools and forms clouds, releasing heat in the process. More air then flows towards the low-pressure centre. Under suitable atmospheric conditions, this circulation can develop into a powerful storm. Reaching land does not mean that all danger immediately ends. The storm gradually loses its ocean energy source, but strong winds and heavy rainfall can continue inland. Flooding may therefore affect places far from the point where the centre crosses the coast. Coastal communities face an additional hazard. Winds can push seawater towards the shore, raising the water level above the tide normally expected. This extra rise is called storm surge. If water enters low-lying settlements, an otherwise familiar road or fishing harbour can quickly become unsafe. A forecast gives authorities time to act before these hazards arrive. Moving people into safer buildings, bringing fishing boats back and positioning rescue teams all take time. Evacuation plans are therefore based on expected danger, rather than waiting for damage to prove that a storm is serious.
How it developed
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26 October 2026: forecast and preparednessHow it started
IMD forecasts a coastal crossing near Yanam on 28 October
The 16:00 IST bulletin uses the storm’s observed position at 11:30 IST on 26 October. It forecasts landfall near Yanam during the forenoon of 28 October, with heavy rain also affecting Odisha and adjoining inland areas. The National Crisis Management Committee reviewed preparations on 26 October. States described shelter and evacuation arrangements, while national rescue and defence agencies stood ready to assist. These preparations do not mean that all threatened communities have already been evacuated.
Why it matters for UPSC
Explain how warm seas, winds, rainfall and storm surge create different hazards. Connect early warnings with evacuation, resilient shelters and coordination across states. Distinguish a forecast track from an observed track and preparedness from completed evacuation.
Key terms
Sources (3)
- India Meteorological Department · official · Arnab national bulletin 10, issued 16:00 IST on 26 October26 Oct, 5:30 am
- PIB / Cabinet Secretariat · official · National Crisis Management Committee reviews cyclone preparations26 Oct, 5:30 am
- Reuters / Business Standard · Andhra Pradesh and Odisha prepare evacuations ahead of Arnab26 Oct, 5:30 am