Cyclone Murasu

Cyclone Murasu
Murasu while approaching southeastern India on 1 November
Meteorological history
Formed29 October 2026
Severe cyclonic storm
3-minute sustained (IMD)
Highest winds100 km/h (65 mph)
Highest gusts120 km/h (75 mph)
Lowest pressure986 hPa (mbar); 29.12 inHg
Category 1-equivalent tropical cyclone
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC)
Highest winds120 km/h (75 mph)
Lowest pressure991 hPa (mbar); 29.26 inHg
Overall effects
Areas affected
Part of the 2026 North Indian Ocean cyclone season
See more detailed information

Cyclone Murasu is a tropical cyclone that is currently threatening South India's eastern coast. It is the ninth depression and the second cyclone of the 2026 North Indian Ocean cyclone season after Cyclone Arnab, which also struck the same region less than a week before. Murasu originated as a low-pressure area on Andaman Sea on 29 October 2026 and intensified into a cyclonic storm over the Bay of Bengal on 1 November en route to southern Andhra Pradesh.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) alarmed 26 districts across the states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, southern Odisha, and north-east Tamil Nadu for extreme weather events, including heavy rainfall, strong winds, and storm surge, from 2 to 4 November. Bracing for impact, the aforementioned states mobilised their disaster response teams to engage in evacuation, proactive measures, and mitigation.

Meteorological history

Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Map key
Saffir–Simpson scale
  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown
Storm type
triangle Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

Under the influence of upper-level cyclonic circulation over southern Andaman Sea, a low-pressure area formed at 00:00 UTC on 29 October 2026, as per the India Meteorological Department (IMD). It moved northwestwards, positioning itself over the Nicobar Islands by 03:00 UTC on 30 October. Early forecasts predicted the system to strengthen and approach the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh in manner similar to Cyclone Arnab, which had impacted the state on 27 October and left a trail of destruction. The United States Air Force and Navy's Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC), marked the tropical disturbance as Invest 91B, observing a low-level circulation center (LLCC) with a "flaring" convection as well as weak banding in its southern and eastern periphery.

On 31 October, the disturbance emerged onto southeastern Bay of Bengal, 294 km south-west to Port Blair. Satellite imagery showed that the LLCC had rapidly consolidated with a deep, persistent convection above it, alongside formative rain bands in its northern and southern quadrants, prompting a TCFA (Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert) from the JTWC. The IMD reported the system to have concentrated into a depression by 06:00 UTC at 300 km north-west of Car Nicobar and 1140 km south-east of Chennai, favouring cyclogenesis with a sea surface temperature of 29 °C, an active but weak phase-3 Madden–Julian oscillation, and a low vertical wind shear; it had an estimated central pressure of 1008 hPa (mbar) and maximum sustained wind speed of 46.3 km/h gusting to 64.8 km/h, and was projected to move towards southern Coastal Andhra and make landfall between Narasapuram and Nellore.

On 1 November, the system intensified into a deep depression at 00:00 UTC, about 700 km east of Chennai and 770 km south-east of Machilipatnam, and continued moving northwestwards, steered by an upper tropospheric ridge running 17°N due to an anti-cyclone over Myanmar. The JTWC recategorized it as Tropical Cyclone 04B. Six hours later, IMD confirmed that it further intesified into a cyclonic storm and named it Murasu, a name nominated by India as per tropical cyclone nomenclature. Murasu laid about 560 km east of Chennai and 630 km southeast of Nellore with wind speed of 65 to 75 km/h gusting to 85 km/h. The storm's area of intense convection tilted north-west due to wind shear, and its track favoured an eventual northwest recurvature due to the aforementioned ridge, reaffirming the landfall forecast between Narasapuram and Nellore. By 15:00 UTC, Murasu had moved closer to the coast of southern Andhra Pradesh, about 350 km east of Chennai and 400 km south-east of Nellore, and predicted to further intensify and make landfall near Ongole. Marine meteorologist Fred Pickhardt opined on Substack that there is a risk of rapid intensification as Murasu moves through a "highly favourable environment" and subsequently decelerates when the steering currents cease in the next 12 to 24 hours, further delaying the landfall. IMD confirmed that Murasu intensified into a Severe Cyclonic Storm by 21:00 UTC, with satellite images showing clear spiral banding of its clouds.

Murasu abruptly decelerated on 2 November as it approached an evolving col consisting of two anticyclonic cells that resulted from a bifurication of the subtropical ridge. The cyclone was located 160 km east of Nellore, 180 km north-east of Chennai, and 180 km south-east of Kavali by 03:00 UTC, with an estimated central pressure of 996 hPa and maximum sustained wind speed of 101.9 km/h gusting to 120.4 km/h. With an intensity score of T3.5, sateliite analysis showed that Murasu's clouds were organised in a curved band pattern, core embedded in a central dense overcast (CDO), and low-level vorticity shifting from circular to elliptical. The vortex was characterized with deep inner-core convection and "vigorous" overshooting cloud tops over and around the elliptical, asymmetric LLCC. The IMD projected landfall at Ongole between 18:00 and 22:00 UTC of 2nd November. The JTWC forecasted Murasu to stall near the coastline or make a prolonged landfall as it embeds itself between the anticyclonic cells, and that the upwelling from such stalling on the cool, shallow waters of the Coromandel Coast will suffocate the cyclone, hindering any possibility of further intensification before landfall.

Preparations and impact

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh had barely begun healing from Arnab when it received alerts about the next cyclone, Murasu. The IMD issued storm surge warnings to southern Coastal Andhra, especially the low-lying areas of Bapatla, Prakasam, Nellore, Guntur, and Krishna districts. The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh directed officials to ensure adequate manpower and equipment ready for relief and rescue operations and proactively shift necessary personnel and materials to high-risk areas, highlighting the damages from Cyclone Arnab.

Fishermen of Andhra Pradesh, who were still recovering from Arnab and have stayed off the sea since before its impact, were advised to remain docked till 4 November due to Murasu. Torrential rainfall alerts were issues to Eluru, Krishna, NTR, Bapatla, and Alluri districts. Around 15,128 electricity poles across 12 districts were estimated to be damaged by Murasu's strong winds. Palnadu district magistrate declared schools and colleges shut on 2 November in the district in view of the alerts. Nellore district magistrate created a 24-hour control room to address emergencies.

Considering Arnab's destruction of power grids, the Special Chief Secretary of Energy directed power utilities to take foolproof precautionary measures to safeguard electricity infrastructure and remain fully prepared to undertake restoration works on an emergency basis. He instructed the department to maintain adequate stocks of poles, conductors, and transformers, as well as strategically positioning sufficient manpower, vehicles, and machinery in vulnerable areas.

The state's health authorities formed 1,688 medical teams and arranged 116 relief centres with requisite medicine,13,165 emergency beds, and 1,454 ambulances in preparation for Murasu's impact. Emergency medicines were restocked in all the pharmacies as well as the 121 primary and urban health centres along the coast. Of the 6,870 pregnant women who are expecting delivery between November 1 and 10, 493 were proactively shifted to the nearby health centres for safe delivery.

Telangana

Telangana is located directly beside much of Coastal Andhra, and as such, is vulnerable to any extreme weather resulting from the remnants of tropical storm that make landfall in Andhra Pradesh. The IMD issued heavy-to-very-heavy rainfall (orange) alerts to its districts that border Andhra—Khammam, Nalgonda, Suryapet, Mahabubnagar, Nagarkurnool and Wanaparthy; and heavy rainfall (yellow) alert to Jangaon, Yadadri Bhuvanagiri, Rangareddy, Hyderabad and Medchal-Malkajgiri districts for 2 November.

The rain forecast in the aforementioned districts of Telangana concerned the state's farmers whose paddy and cotton crops were in various stages of cultivation. Officials from the Telangana Department of Agriculture said that they have dispensed resources like tarpaulin sheets to protect the harvested grains.

Odisha

In the state of Odisha, which was adversely affected by Arnab, 150 landslide-prone locations were identified and plans to evacuate people from hilly and coastal low-lying areas by 2 November were set in motion. Although Murasu is not projected to make a direct landfall in Odisha, widespread rainfall and thunderstorms in the state, especially southern Odisha, as the cyclone moves towards the south Andhra Pradesh coast is highly favourable. The IMD forecast rainfall of 7–20cm in the districts of Ganjam, Gajapati, Koraput, Rayagada, and Malkangiri on 2 and 3 November, alongside winds reaching 50–60km/h, gusting to 70km/h, on November 3. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) were kept on standby in vulnerable areas, while fishermen were advised to abstain from ventureing into the sea from 2 to 4 November.

Tamil Nadu

Considering Murasu is tracking closer to Tamil Nadu unlike Arnab, the state prepared to brace its impact. Bulletins from the IMD's Regional Meteorological Center in Chennai, the state capital, sent out heavy-to-very-heavy rainfall alerts to Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kanchipuram, Chengalpattu, and Ranipet districts. The Government of Tamil Nadu directed the district administrations to strengthen preparedness. The Commissionerate of Revenue Administration and Disaster Management directed district magistrates to follow disaster management protocols, mobilise district machinery, and promptly report untoward incidents. Residents of the aforementioned districts were advised to avoid beaches and coastal roads, waterlogged subways, and fallen power lines.

District magistrates of Chennai and Tiruvallur—the two northern most districts of Tamil Nadu—proactively declared schools and colleges closed in their districts on 2 November. Chennai's Ennore, Madhavaram, Nungambakkam and Nandanam neighbourhoods recorded 39 mm, 21 mm, 20.4 mm, and 13.5 mm rainfall by 22:30 IST (05:00 UTC) on 1 November itself.

Fisherman were instructed to not venture into the sea until 4 November, with forecasts for the Coromandel coast expecting winds to reach 60 to 80 km/h on 1 and 2 November and the sea expected to remain "very rough" as waves reach four to six metres in height, reducing visibility until 3 November. Those already fishing in deep waters have been asked to return immediately to the harbour or the coast.

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 The name Murasu (Tamil: முரசு; [mʊɾəsu]) was contributed by India and means "drum" in the Tamil language, referring to a traditional percussion instrument of the Tamil people.
  2. ↑ IMD's wind speed calculations are based on readings taken in one-minute intervals.

References

  1. ↑ "TROPICAL CYCLONE ADVISORY NO. 24 FOR NORTH INDIAN OCEAN" (PDF). Indian Meteorological Department. 29 October 2026. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 October 2026. Retrieved 30 October 2026.
  2. ↑ "TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR THE NORTH INDIAN OCEAN" (PDF). Indian Meteorological Department. 30 October 2026. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 October 2026. Retrieved 30 October 2026.
  3. ↑ Sravani, Nellore (29 October 2026). "Cyclone Arnab: Low pressure forms in Andaman Sea after cyclone, may affect Andhra Pradesh". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 29 October 2026.
  4. ↑ Significant Tropical Weather Advisory for the Indian Ocean, 30 October 2026 (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 30 October 2026. Archived from the original on 30 October 2026. Retrieved 30 October 2026.
  5. ↑ Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert (Invest 91B) (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 31 October 2026. Archived from the original on 31 October 2026. Retrieved 31 October 2026.
  6. ↑ "SPECIAL TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR THE NORTH INDIAN OCEAN" (PDF). IMD. 31 October 2026. Retrieved 31 October 2026.
  7. ↑ "SPECIAL TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR THE NORTH INDIAN OCEAN" (PDF). IMD. 1 November 2026. Retrieved 1 November 2026.
  8. ↑ "Deep Depression over Southeast & adjoining Southwest Bay of Bengal [Pre-Cyclone: Watch for Andhra Pradesh coast - Yellow Message]" (PDF). IMD. 1 November 2026. Retrieved 1 November 2026.
  9. ↑ Tropical Cyclone 04B (FOUR) Warning No. 1 (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 1 November 2021. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  10. ↑ "Who named Cyclone Murasu and why? Where will it make landfall; Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala on high alert". The Times of India. 31 October 2026. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 1 November 2026.
  11. ↑ "Deep Depression intensified into Cyclonic Storm "Murasu" [Pronunciation: Murasu] over Southwest & adjoining West-central Bay of Bengal" (PDF). Indian Meteorological Department. 1 November 2026. Retrieved 1 November 2026.
  12. ↑ Singharia, Kanishka (1 November 2026). "Cyclone 'Murasu': Telangana issues orange alert for 6 districts amid heavy rainfall warning on Nov 2". Mint. Retrieved 1 November 2026.
  13. ↑ "Cyclonic Storm "Murasu" [Pronunciation: Murasu] over Southwest & adjoining Westcentral Bay of Bengal" (PDF). India Meteorological Department. 2 November 2026. Retrieved 2 November 2026.
  14. ↑ Pickhardt, Fred (1 November 2026). "TC Murasu intensifies in Bay of Bengal". Fred Pickhardt's Substack. Retrieved 1 November 2026.
  15. ↑ "TROPICAL CYCLONE ADVISORY NO. 05 FOR NORTH INDIAN OCEAN" (PDF). India Meteorological Department. 2 November 2026. Retrieved 2 November 2026.
  16. ↑ "TROPICAL CYCLONE ADVISORY NO. 06 FOR NORTH INDIAN OCEAN" (PDF). India Metorological Department. 2 November 2026. Retrieved 2 November 2026.
  17. 1 2 3 "PROGNOSTIC REASONING FOR TROPICAL CYCLONE 04B (MURASU) WARNING NR 006". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 2 November 2026. Archived from the original on 2 November 2026. Retrieved 2 November 2026.
  18. 1 2 "TROPICAL CYCLONE ADVISORY NO. 07 FOR NORTH INDIAN OCEAN" (PDF). India Meteorological Department. 2 November 2026. Retrieved 2 November 2026.
  19. ↑ Sravani, Nellore (1 November 2026). "Cyclone 'Murasu' drums up fresh worry for Andhra after Arnab; red alert sounded in five districts". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 1 November 2026.
  20. ↑ "Deep Depression intensified into Cyclonic Storm "Murasu" [Pronunciation: Murasu] over Southwest & adjoining West-central Bay of Bengal" (PDF). Indian Meteorological Department. 1 November 2026. Retrieved 1 November 2026.
  21. ↑ "TROPICAL CYCLONE ADVISORY NO. 01 FOR NORTH INDIAN OCEAN" (PDF). Indian Meteorological Department. 1 November 2026. Retrieved 1 November 2026.
  22. 1 2 3 4 "Cyclone Murasu Live Updates: CM Chandrababu Naidu cancels Delhi visit as cyclone threat looms; 20 mandals to face extremely heavy rain". The Times of India. 1 November 2026. Retrieved 1 November 2026.
  23. ↑ Sravani, Nellore (31 October 2026). "After 'Arnab', Andhra Pradesh may face another severe cyclonic storm". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 31 October 2026.
  24. 1 2 "Cyclone Murasu LIVE update: Orange alert in six Telangana districts, yellow alert in five; holidays announced for school in T.N. districts". The Hindu. 2 November 2026. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 1 November 2026.
  25. ↑ "Nellore District On High Alert As Cyclone Murasu Approaches". Deccan Chronicle. 1 November 2026. Retrieved 1 November 2026.
  26. ↑ "Power utilities told to brace for Cyclone Murasu". The Hindu. 1 November 2026. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 1 November 2026.
  27. ↑ "Cyclone Murasu: 1,688 Medical Teams, 116 Relief Camps Set Up". Deccan Chronicle. 1 November 2026. Retrieved 1 November 2026.
  28. ↑ "Cyclone Murasu: Orange alert in six Telangana districts, yellow alert in five on November 2". The Hindu. 1 November 2026. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 1 November 2026.
  29. ↑ Shankar, K. Shiva (1 November 2026). "Cyclone Murasu | Paddy farmers in Telangana fear crop damage amid high market prices". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 1 November 2026.
  30. 1 2 Sahoo, Akshay Kumar (1 November 2026). "After Cyclone Arnab, Murasu Threatens Odisha With Heavy Rain". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 1 November 2026.
  31. 1 2 "Storm 'Murasu' to bring very heavy rain over north Tamil Nadu". The Hindu. 1 November 2026. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 1 November 2026.
  32. 1 2 "Cyclone Murasu: TN directs Chennai, Chengalpattu, Tiruvallur, Kanchi collectors to stay vigilant". Dina Thanthi. 1 November 2026. Retrieved 1 November 2026.

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