Low pressure forms in Andaman Sea after Cyclone Arnab, may affect Andhra Pradesh

A tree uprooted by Cyclone Arnab lies on a car in Visakhapatnam. | Photo Credit: K. R. Deepak

A day after Cyclone Arnab crossed the Andhra Pradesh coast, a fresh low-pressure area has formed over the south Andaman Sea, and India Meteorological Department (IMD) officials say it could affect the State.

According to the latest information from the IMD, Amaravati, a low-pressure area formed over the south Andaman Sea at around 5.30 a.m. on Thursday (October 29, 2026), under the influence of a cyclonic circulation. It was still over the same region at 8.30 a.m.

(A).  Depression over south Chhattisgarh and adjoining south Odisha The Depression (Remnant of Very Severe Cyclonic Storm "Arnab") over south Chhattisgarh and adjoining south Odisha moved nearly northwards with the speed of 18 kmph during past 6 hours, and lay centered at 0830 hrs IST of today, the 29th October, over the same region near latitude 19.4°N and longitude 81.9°E, about 40 km north-northwest of Jagdalpur (Chhattisgarh), 180 km southwest of Titlagarh (Odisha), 150 km west-southwest of Bhawanipatna (Odisha), 200 km south of Raipur (Odisha), and 310 km southwest of Sambalpur (Odisha). It is very likely to continue to move nearly northwards, and weaken into a well marked low pressure area over North Chhattisgarh and adjoining Northwest Odisha around evening of today, the 29th October 2026. During past 24 hours ending at 0830 hours IST of today, there has been widespread rainfall activity over north Andhra Pradesh, Northeast Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand, and Gangetic West Bengal with heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places and extremely heavy rainfall (21 cm or more) at a isolated places over South Odisha and North Andhra Pradesh, heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places over North Odisha and heavy rainfall at isolated places over Northeast Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Gangetic West Bengal. Exceptional heavy rainfall occurred over south Odisha during past 24 hours ending at 0830 IST of today. The highest rainfall of 546 mm occurred over Patrapur (dist Ganjam) followed by 503 mm over Sorada (dist Ganjam), 462 mm over G.Udaygiri (Kandhamal), 458 mm over Mahendragarh (Gajapati), 388 mm over Sanakhemundi (Ganjam), 309 mm over Chikiti (Ganjam).   The system is under continuous surveillance of the Doppler Weather Radar at Raipur and Sambalpur. (B) Low Pressure Area over South Andaman Sea and neighborhood. The low pressure area over south Andaman Sea & neighbourhood persisted over the same region at 0830 Hrs IST of today, the 29th October 2026. It is very likely to move west-northwestwards and become a Well Marked Low Pressure Area over south Andaman Sea and adjoining Andaman & Nicobar Islands during next 24 hours. Thereafter, continuing to move west-northwestwards, it is very likely to concentrate into a depression over southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining Andaman Nicobar & Islands and Andaman Sea during subsequent 24 hours.

— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) October 29, 2026

It is very likely to move west-northwestwards and become a well-marked low-pressure area over the south Andaman Sea and adjoining Andaman and Nicobar Islands by Friday (October 30). It is then likely to keep moving west-northwest and concentrate into a depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands by October 31. Officials of the IMD in Amaravati said it would “most likely” affect Andhra Pradesh. They are watching to see whether the system intensifies further.

The IMD has already forecast heavy rain at isolated places in coastal Andhra Pradesh on November 1, 2 and 3. November 1 is polling day for the urban local body elections, which the State Election Commission has decided to hold as scheduled.

The remnant of Arnab has moved inland and weakened. At 8.30 a.m. on Thursday it was a depression about 40 km north-northwest of Jagdalpur in Chhattisgarh, moving north at 18 kmph. It is expected to weaken further into a well-marked low-pressure area over north Chhattisgarh and northwest Odisha by Thursday evening.

The storm’s remnant dumped exceptional rain on south Odisha in the 24 hours to 8.30 a.m. on Thursday. Patrapur in Ganjam district, where the Baghalati dam is located, recorded 546 mm, the highest. Sorada in Ganjam got 503 mm and Mahendragarh in Gajapati 458 mm. Water released from the Baghalati dam has flooded Ichchapuram and nearby villages on the Andhra Pradesh side of the border.

Published - October 29, 2026 01:45 pm IST