Cyclone warning: Severe storm to hit Andhra Pradesh coast on Nov 17
Synopsis
Andhra Pradesh is bracing for its third cyclone in 20 days — with the IMD tracking a rapidly intensifying depression set to become a severe cyclonic storm by 17 November. After Cyclone Arnab and Cyclone Murasu together killed 15 people and caused over ₹6,500 crore in damage, the state's battered coast is now facing another direct hit.
Key Takeaways
The IMD warned on 15 November 2026 that a severe cyclonic storm is likely to strike North Andhra Pradesh on 17 November .
The depression was centred 1,040 km south-southeast of Visakhapatnam as of Sunday morning and is intensifying rapidly.
This will be the third cyclone to hit Andhra Pradesh's coast in 20 days , following very severe cyclonic storm 'Arnab' (27 October) and severe cyclonic storm 'Murasu' (3 November).
The two previous storms killed 15 people and caused combined estimated losses exceeding ₹6,500 crore .
Cyclone 'Murasu' alone damaged crops across 1,43,122 hectares , affecting 1,86,063 farmers .
APSDMA MD Prakhar Jain has urged residents and farmers in North Andhra to take immediate precautionary measures.
The Andhra Pradesh coast is on high alert as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned on 15 November 2026 that a severe cyclonic storm is likely to make landfall near North Andhra on 17 November, making it the third cyclone to strike the state's coast in just 20 days. The depression, currently tracking over the Southeast Bay of Bengal, is intensifying rapidly and moving north-northwestwards.
Current Position and Track
As of 5:30 am IST on Sunday, 15 November, the well-marked low-pressure system lay centred over the Southeast and adjoining Southwest Bay of Bengal — approximately 700 km west-southwest of Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair), 860 km east-southeast of Chennai, 1,040 km south-southeast of Visakhapatnam, and 1,160 km south-southeast of Gopalpur in Odisha.
According to the IMD bulletin, the system is very likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm over the central Bay of Bengal by 16 November, and further into a severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal by 17 November.
Alert for North Andhra Pradesh
The Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) confirmed that the storm is likely to approach the coastal region of North Andhra. Prakhar Jain, Managing Director of APSDMA and Chief Executive Officer of the Real-Time Governance Society (RTGS), warned that North Andhra may experience heavy rains accompanied by strong winds on Thursday and Friday. He urged the public and farmers to take necessary precautionary measures immediately.
Third Cyclone in 20 Days: A Devastating Pattern
This would be the third cyclonic system to cross the Andhra Pradesh coastline in under three weeks — an unusually punishing sequence for the state. Very severe cyclonic storm 'Arnab' struck near Narsapuram on 27 October, while severe cyclonic storm 'Murasu' crossed the coast between Nellore and Narasapur on 3 November.
The two back-to-back storms within a single week claimed the lives of 15 people and caused widespread destruction to infrastructure and agriculture across coastal districts. Electricity networks and roads suffered extensive damage from the heavy rains and strong winds.
Scale of Losses from Previous Cyclones
Preliminary estimates put the damage from Cyclone 'Murasu' at approximately ₹1,919.59 crore, with crops damaged across 1,43,122 hectares, affecting 1,86,063 farmers. Cyclone 'Arnab' inflicted an even heavier blow, with losses estimated at ₹4,600 crore. Combined, the two storms caused damage exceeding ₹6,500 crore — and a third strike risks compounding an already strained relief and recovery operation.
What Lies Ahead
With the new storm still intensifying, the IMD is expected to issue updated landfall forecasts and red alerts for coastal Andhra districts in the coming 24 to 48 hours. Authorities have begun mobilising disaster response teams, and residents in vulnerable coastal zones are being advised to evacuate or stock essential supplies ahead of the storm's projected arrival on 17 November.
Point of View
500 crore and 1.86 lakh farmers still reeling, the state's relief machinery is being asked to respond to a third emergency before the first two are closed. What is conspicuously absent from official communication is any honest accounting of whether the relief disbursed after Arnab and Murasu actually reached the affected farmers — or whether a third wave of paperwork will compound the same delays. The pattern also raises a larger climate question: the Bay of Bengal's warming surface temperatures are generating cyclones with shorter formation windows and tighter recurrence intervals, and India's coastal infrastructure planning has not kept pace.
NationPress
15 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the cyclone hit Andhra Pradesh?
The IMD has forecast that the system will intensify into a severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal by 17 November 2026 and is likely to approach the North Andhra coast on that date. Updated landfall forecasts are expected as the storm tracks closer.
Which areas of Andhra Pradesh are most at risk?
North Andhra Pradesh is the primary zone of concern, according to the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority. Residents and farmers in coastal districts of North Andhra have been urged to take immediate precautionary measures ahead of heavy rains and strong winds expected on Thursday and Friday.
How many cyclones have hit Andhra Pradesh recently?
This would be the third cyclone to strike the Andhra Pradesh coast in 20 days. Very severe cyclonic storm 'Arnab' hit near Narsapuram on 27 October, and severe cyclonic storm 'Murasu' crossed between Nellore and Narasapur on 3 November 2026.
What damage did the previous two cyclones cause?
Cyclones Arnab and Murasu together killed 15 people and caused an estimated combined loss exceeding ₹6,500 crore. Cyclone Murasu alone damaged crops across 1,43,122 hectares, affecting 1,86,063 farmers, while Cyclone Arnab's losses were estimated at ₹4,600 crore.
What is the current position of the storm system?
As of 5:30 am IST on 15 November, the depression was centred approximately 1,040 km south-southeast of Visakhapatnam and 860 km east-southeast of Chennai over the Southeast Bay of Bengal. It is moving north-northwestwards and intensifying.
