Severe Cyclone Murasu nears Andhra coast, landfall due tonight
The India Meteorological Department has put Andhra Pradesh and north Tamil Nadu on red alert as the storm, now a severe cyclonic storm, tracks towards the coast south of Ongole.
Key Takeaways
- Murasu intensified into a severe cyclonic storm in the early hours of 2 November 2026 and is heading north-west towards the south Andhra Pradesh coast.
- Landfall is expected between Nellore and Narsapur, close to Ongole, between 11.30 pm on 2 November and 4 am on 3 November, with winds gusting to 120 kmph.
- Red alerts cover Andhra Pradesh and north Tamil Nadu, a 1 to 1.5 metre storm surge is forecast, and fishermen must stay off the Andhra coast until 4 November.
Introduction
Severe Cyclonic Storm Murasu is closing in on the south Andhra Pradesh coast, with landfall expected late on Monday night, 2 November 2026. The system strengthened into a severe cyclonic storm in the early hours of Monday, prompting red alerts, school closures and emergency deployments.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) says the storm will cross the coast between Nellore and Narsapur, close to Ongole, between 11.30 pm on 2 November and 4 am on 3 November. Low-lying south coastal Andhra Pradesh faces very heavy rain, damaging winds and a surge of 1 to 1.5 metres above the normal tide.
What Happened?
Murasu intensified into a severe cyclonic storm over the west-central and adjoining south-west Bay of Bengal, the IMD said on Monday morning. At 2.30 am IST on 2 November, it was centred near 13.6 degrees north and 82.5 degrees east, moving north-west at about 20 kmph.
It then lay about 260 km east-north-east of Chennai, 290 km east-south-east of Nellore, 330 km south-east of Ongole and 470 km south of Visakhapatnam. Winds around the centre were 90 to 100 kmph, gusting to 110 kmph, with stronger winds forecast by landfall.
The IMD expects the storm to keep moving north-west and cross the coast as a severe cyclonic storm, with sustained winds of 100 to 110 kmph and gusts to 120 kmph. The window from 11.30 pm on 2 November to 4 am on 3 November narrows earlier forecasts, which pointed more broadly to the early hours of 3 November.
Why Does This Matter?
The upgrade to a severe cyclonic storm raises the wind, rainfall and surge risk for a densely populated coastline. A surge of 1 to 1.5 metres above the tide is forecast to flood low-lying areas, with the highest impact expected in Bapatla district and also in Krishna and Prakasam districts.
District red alerts on 2 November cover Krishna, Guntur, Bapatla, Prakasam and Nellore, where extremely heavy rain is a risk. North Tamil Nadu and Puducherry face winds of 60 to 70 kmph, gusting to 80 kmph, from Monday evening into Tuesday morning. Chennai has declared a school holiday for 2 November, Tiruvallur has followed, and Malkangiri in Odisha has closed schools and colleges from 2 to 4 November.
Important Details
- Position at 2.30 am IST, 2 November 2026: near 13.6 degrees north, 82.5 degrees east, about 330 km south-east of Ongole.
- Movement: nearly north-west at about 20 kmph over the previous six hours.
- Landfall forecast: between Nellore and Narsapur, close to Ongole, between 11.30 pm on 2 November and 4 am on 3 November.
- Landfall winds: sustained 100 to 110 kmph, gusting to 120 kmph.
- Storm surge: 1 to 1.5 metres above the tide, highest in Bapatla district.
- Fishermen: stay off the Andhra coast from the morning of 2 November to the afternoon of 4 November.
Background and Context
Murasu strengthened into a cyclonic storm at 11.30 am on Sunday, 1 November, taking the next name on the north Indian Ocean list after Cyclone Arnab. An earlier forecast on 1 November had it crossing the south Andhra coast between Nellore and Narsapur in the early hours of 3 November, with the same peak winds.
Monday's update firms that picture up: the storm is stronger, closer to the coast, and its landfall window is tighter. In Rayagada district in Odisha, all 11 fire service teams and heavy machinery have been deployed, so National Highway 326 can be cleared if roads are blocked.
What Happens Next?
The critical window is late on Monday night into the early hours of Tuesday. After landfall, the system is forecast to weaken inland, reaching cyclonic storm strength by late on Tuesday morning and depression strength by Wednesday morning, though those stages remain forecasts.
Rain and disruption are expected to continue through 3 November in coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema. Residents should follow fresh IMD bulletins and district advisories, and should not return to low-lying or flooded areas until officials say it is safe.
What Readers Should Know
This article reports a forecast, not an outcome. The landfall time, place and wind speeds are the IMD's forecast as of Monday morning, 2 November 2026, and they can change. Do not travel to coastal areas in the alert zone on Monday night, and call 112 in an emergency.
FAQs
When will Cyclone Murasu make landfall?
Between 11.30 pm on 2 November and 4 am on 3 November 2026, between Nellore and Narsapur on the south Andhra Pradesh coast, close to Ongole.
How strong will the winds be?
Sustained winds of 100 to 110 kmph at landfall, gusting to 120 kmph. North Tamil Nadu and Puducherry face 60 to 70 kmph, gusting to 80 kmph, from Monday evening into Tuesday morning.
Is this the same cyclone forecast on 1 November?
Yes. It was forecast on 1 November to cross the south Andhra coast in the early hours of 3 November. On 2 November it intensified into a severe cyclonic storm, and the window narrowed to late Monday night into early Tuesday.
Sources and Verification
IMD position, movement, landfall window and wind speeds, as reported on 2 November 2026 by Mathrubhumi English, Asianet Newsable and The News Mill, citing the IMD bulletin of 2.30 am IST on 2 November. District alerts and school closures are as reported by CareerIndia and Asianet Newsable on 2 November 2026.
Related News
- Cyclone Murasu heads for Andhra coast, landfall on 3 November
- Bhutan glacier burst puts Bengal and Assam on flood alert
Editorial Note
This is a developing weather story based on official IMD forecasts available on the morning of 2 November 2026. No casualty or damage figures are included because none were confirmed in the sources used.
