Heavy rain, 120 kmph winds: What to expect in weather as Cyclone Murasu arrives

Severe Cyclonic Storm Murasu is approaching the Andhra Pradesh coast with landfall expected overnight. The system threatens extreme rainfall, 120 kmph gusts and dangerous sea conditions across several states.People being rescued from a flood-affected area amid rainfall, in view of Cyclone Ditwah, in Chennai.

Severe Cyclonic Storm Murasu is closing in on India's eastern coastline, bringing the threat of destructive winds, torrential rainfall and rough seas across Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and neighbouring states on Tuesday.According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Murasu was centred over the westcentral Bay of Bengal at 2:30 pm on Monday, November 2, around 100 km east of Nellore, 120 km southeast of Kavali and 160 km north-northeast of Chennai.The cyclone is moving northwestwards at around 10 kmph and is expected to cross the south Andhra Pradesh coast as a severe cyclonic storm between Nellore and Narsapur, south of Ongole. Landfall is likely between 11:30 pm on Monday and 4 am on Tuesday, November 3.The IMD has warned that the system could pack sustained wind speeds of 100-110 kmph, with gusts reaching 120 kmph during landfall.

ANDHRA PRADESH FACES EXTREMELY HEAVY RAINFALLCoastal Andhra Pradesh is expected to bear the brunt of the cyclone, with light to moderate rainfall at most places and heavy to very heavy rainfall at several locations on November 2 and 3. Extremely heavy rainfall is also likely at isolated places.Rayalaseema is also expected to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall, with extremely heavy showers possible at isolated locations on Tuesday.

The IMD has warned of heavy rainfall in north Tamil Nadu on Monday, particularly across Chennai, Tiruvallur, Ranipet, Kancheepuram and Chengalpattu. Rainfall is expected to continue at isolated places on Tuesday.The impact of Murasu will extend inland, with Telangana likely to witness an increase in rainfall intensity on Tuesday.

Heavy to very heavy rainfall, including extremely heavy showers at isolated places, is forecast across parts of the state.South Odisha and south Chhattisgarh are also likely to receive rainfall, with isolated heavy showers during November 2-4.WINDS OF UP TO 120 KMPH, ROUGH SEASThe cyclone is expected to generate gale-force winds reaching 100-110 kmph, gusting to 120 kmph over the westcentral Bay of Bengal until midnight on Monday.Along the Andhra Pradesh coast, wind speeds could intensify to 100-110 kmph, with gusts reaching 120 kmph, between Monday night and the early hours of Tuesday.North Tamil Nadu and Puducherry could experience gale winds reaching 60-70 kmph, gusting to 80 kmph.The IMD has also warned of very high sea conditions over the westcentral Bay of Bengal until Tuesday morning. High to very high sea conditions are expected along the Andhra Pradesh coast.The sea is likely to gradually improve from November 3 onwards.Murasu will continue to be monitored by Doppler Weather Radars at Chennai, Machilipatnam and Visakhapatnam as it approaches the coastline.- Ends