Rain begins in north Andhra ahead of Cyclone Murasu

Rough waves lash the Palepalem coast near Kothapatnam in Prakasam district on Monday, ahead of Cyclone Murasu’s expected landfall near Ongole. | Photo Credit: Kommuri Srinivas

The first rain from Cyclone Murasu has fallen in north coastal Andhra Pradesh, far from where the storm is headed. The central and south coastal districts, which are on red alert, were yet to see any major rainfall on Monday (November 2, 2026).

Kakinada (Rural) mandal recorded the most rain between 8.30 a.m. and noon, 51.75 mm at the MRO office gauge, according to real-time data from the Andhra Pradesh Directorate of Economics and Statistics (APDES). Most of the rain fell in Kakinada, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts. Visakhapatnam’s highest reading was 12.5 mm at Gambheeram in Anandapuram mandal. Ongole in Prakasam district, where the landfall is likely to happen, had not recorded any rain as of 10 a.m. The Rayalaseema districts stayed dry.

In the 24 hours to 8.30 a.m. on Monday, Bhogapuram in Vizianagaram district recorded the most rain in the State, 102.49 mm at the KVBR School gauge.

Meanwhile, the severe cyclonic storm over the west-central and southwest Bay of Bengal is moving west-northwestwards at 22 kmph towards the A.P. coast. At 8.30 a.m. on Monday, the storm was located about 160 km east-southeast of Nellore, 180 km northeast of Chennai, 180 km east-southeast of Kavali, 210 km southeast of Ongole and 240 km south of Machilipatnam.

Weather experts said the system had moved fast in the morning but may slow down near the coast. The landfall is likely between 11.30 p.m. on Monday and 4 a.m. on Tuesday, according to the India Meteorological Department.

Weather models point to Ongole as the likely landfall point, though it could be anywhere between Narsapur and Nellore, officials of the A.P. State Disaster Management Authority said.

How much damage the storm causes will depend on its strength at landfall, where it crosses and the kind of infrastructure there, the officials said.

Published - November 02, 2026 01:41 pm IST