Cyclone Murasu Heads Toward Andhra Coast as IMD Issues Red Alerts for Five Districts

A new cyclone in the Bay of Bengal prompted fresh weather warnings for Andhra Pradesh on Sunday, November 1, with forecasters expecting the system named Murasu to approach the state's coast around November 3. The India Meteorological Department's alerts, as reported by regional news outlets, included red warnings for extremely heavy rain in five districts on Monday. Authorities and residents were also watching the storm's possible intensification and its effects on coastal travel, fishing and power services.

The storm is separate from Cyclone Arnab, which affected the region earlier. That distinction matters for readers who have already seen days of cyclone coverage: Sunday's development is not simply an unchanged update about the earlier system. Murasu formed from a deep depression over the southwest Bay of Bengal, and its forecast track created a new period of concern for parts of Andhra Pradesh and nearby areas.

The forecast track and timing

The system intensified into a cyclonic storm on Sunday morning, according to reporting that cited the weather department. Forecasters said it could strengthen further on Monday and cross the south Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Narsapur around Tuesday morning, November 3. The predicted crossing winds were reported at about 100 to 110 kilometres per hour, with gusts potentially reaching 120 kilometres per hour.

Those figures describe a forecast, not a measured landfall. Tropical systems can change strength and direction, and the exact location and timing of a coastal crossing can shift as new observations arrive. A district outside the centre of the predicted track may still receive dangerous rainfall, while a district inside the forecast cone should not assume the worst-case conditions are guaranteed.

Where the rain warnings are strongest

Reports of the November 1 warning identified Krishna, Guntur, Bapatla, Prakasam and Nellore as red-alert districts for Monday. Orange alerts were reported for East Godavari, West Godavari, Eluru, NTR, Palnadu, Tirupati and Chittoor, with other districts under yellow warnings. Red, orange and yellow indicate different levels of expected impact and preparedness needs; they are not a prediction that every street in a district will experience identical weather.

The warnings also extended into Tuesday, with the distribution of red and orange alerts expected to change as the system moved. Residents should therefore look for the latest district bulletin rather than assume that Sunday's colour coding remains valid throughout the week. The most important information for a particular village or neighbourhood may come from local disaster-management and district administration notices.

Preparedness is already part of the story

Authorities in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha were reported to be preparing for the storm, including standby disaster-response resources and precautionary measures in vulnerable areas. Coastal communities face more than high winds alone. Heavy rain can flood low-lying roads, interrupt transport and delay emergency access. Fishing activity can become dangerous even before a cyclone's centre approaches land.

Emergency teams and district officials must make decisions while the track is still uncertain. Moving resources early can help if conditions deteriorate, but public updates need to distinguish confirmed actions from possible future evacuations. An alert does not by itself mean that all residents of a district have been ordered to leave their homes. Any evacuation instruction should come from the responsible local authority.

What residents and travellers should monitor

People planning journeys through coastal Andhra Pradesh should watch for railway, road and flight advisories as well as the weather forecast. Those travelling for work or school may be affected by local closures, waterlogging or transport disruptions even if they are far from the landfall point. Fishermen and people working near the sea should pay particular attention to official marine warnings.

For households, the immediate value of a weather alert is preparation: knowing the nearest safe shelter, charging essential devices, protecting documents and checking on neighbours who may need help. These are sensible precautions, not evidence that a particular locality has already suffered damage. Social-media videos of waves or flooded roads should not be assumed to show Murasu unless their place and date are verified.

The alert map can change before landfall

A cyclone forecast is updated as observations improve, so a warning issued on Sunday may be replaced by a different warning on Monday. Residents should check the timestamp as well as the district name on any alert they receive. A screenshot forwarded without its issue time can become misleading even if it was accurate when first published. Local rainfall can also be severe outside the predicted landfall corridor because rainbands extend far from a cyclone's centre. That is why inland travel, reservoir levels and drainage conditions deserve attention alongside wind speeds on the coast. The warning is an opportunity to prepare, not proof of an outcome.

The confirmed Sunday development is that Cyclone Murasu formed and prompted new red alerts, with a possible November 3 Andhra Pradesh crossing. The precise landfall point, final intensity and impact remain forecasts. NOWLIVO readers should follow updated IMD and district bulletins as the storm evolves.

Reporting reviewed: timesofindia.indiatimes.com, www.indiatoday.in.