Cyclone Arnab to hit India on Wednesday, rain forecast in multiple states

Very severe cyclonic storm Arnab is expected to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast on Wednesday, October 28, bringing powerful winds, extremely heavy rainfall and a risk of flooding across several states, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Tuesday.The storm is forecast to make landfall by Wednesday forenoon, with winds reaching 125-135 kmph and gusting to 150 kmph near its centre. Heavy rain is also likely across parts of central, eastern and northeastern India. A satellite image shows Cyclone Arnab in the Bay of Bengal. (Photo: IMD) WHEN WILL CYCLONE ARNAB MAKE LANDFALL?According to the IMD's latest bulletin issued on October 27, Arnab was centred over the west-central Bay of Bengal at 8:30 am, about 220 km south-southeast of Visakhapatnam.The storm is expected to move northwest after Tuesday evening and cross the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, close to Yanam, by Wednesday forenoon. Yanam is a coastal enclave of Puducherry located in Andhra Pradesh.Cyclone alert for Andhra Pradesh! Cyclone Arnab is reportedly heading towards the coast, bringing strong winds, heavy rainfall and possible flooding. Praying for everyone’s safety. #CycloneArnab #AndhraPradesh https://t.co/bv7zRrSt8b— Crow Dhillon (@CrowDhillon8) October 27, 2026Coastal districts from Krishna to Anakapalli could experience winds of 115-125 kmph, gusting to 140 kmph, from early morning until forenoon on Wednesday. Wind speeds are expected to ease to 60-70 kmph by evening. The IMD has also warned of a storm surge, which is an abnormal rise in sea level caused by a cyclone, of 1-1.5 metres above the normal tide.Low-lying coastal areas could face flooding, with the highest surge expected near Kakinada in East Godavari district and in Yanam. Cyclone Arnab is pictured in the Bay of Bengal by a satellite. (Photo: IMD) EXTREMELY HEAVY RAIN LIKELYOn Wednesday, heavy to very heavy rainfall, with extremely heavy showers at isolated places, is likely over coastal Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Chhattisgarh. Telangana and Vidarbha may also receive heavy to very heavy rain.Heavy rainfall is forecast at isolated places in East Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Gangetic West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura.The IMD has flagged a moderate flash flood risk in parts of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Chhattisgarh until 11:30 pm on Wednesday.Flash floods can develop rapidly when intense rainfall overwhelms drainage systems and local waterways.#WATCH Mayurbhanj, Odisha: Heavy rain and strong gusty winds were witnessed in the district as cyclonic storm Arnab approaches the east coast https://t.co/HPXOce391F— ANI (@ANI) October 27, 2026THUNDERSTORMS AND GUSTY WINDS ELSEWHEREThunderstorms accompanied by strong, sudden gusts of 60-70 kmph, reaching 80 kmph, are likely over Odisha and Chhattisgarh. Jharkhand and Telangana may experience gusts of 50-60 kmph.Isolated thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds of 40-50 kmph are forecast over Bihar, East Madhya Pradesh, Gangetic West Bengal, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Maharashtra and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.EXTREMELY HEAVY RAINFALL ALERT | CYCLONIC STORM ALERT! Under the influence of Very Severe Cyclonic Storm “ARNAB”, isolated extremely heavy rainfall is likely over Coastal Andhra Pradesh & Yanam and Odisha on 27th–28th October, and Chhattisgarh on 28th October, 2026. Residents are advised to remain alert, follow official weather updates, and adhere to the advisories issued by local authorities. #CycloneArnabUpdate #WeatherAlert #HeavyRainfall #IMD #AndhraPradesh #Yanam #Odisha #Chhattisgarh #CycloneWarning #WeatherUpdate @moesgoi @airnewsalerts @DDNational @ndmaindia @ICRER_MHA— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) October 27, 2026East Uttar Pradesh, interior Karnataka, Kerala and Rayalaseema may experience gusty winds of 30-40 kmph.- Ends