Cyclone alert: Extremely heavy rain likely in coastal Andhra on Oct 27–28
Synopsis
A deepening cyclonic system in the Bay of Bengal is on track to slam into the Andhra Pradesh coast between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam on 28 October as a very severe cyclonic storm with winds gusting to 140 kmph. Six districts are under Red alert, and millions across Andhra, Odisha, Telangana, and Chhattisgarh are in the projected impact zone — with 72 hours left to prepare.
Key Takeaways
The IMD has issued a cyclone alert for coastal Andhra Pradesh and South Odisha , with an Orange alert for both states.
The storm is forecast to cross the coast between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam as a very severe cyclonic storm with winds of 115–125 kmph gusting to 140 kmph by the forenoon of 28 October .
A Red alert has been issued for Kakinada , Konaseema , Eluru , East Godavari , West Godavari , and Krishna districts for 27 October .
Extremely heavy rainfall is also forecast for Odisha and Telangana on 28 October and Chhattisgarh on 28–29 October .
APSDMA MD Prakhar Jain has warned fishermen to stay off the sea and urged the public to remain vigilant and avoid beaches.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday, 25 October issued a cyclone alert for coastal Andhra Pradesh and adjoining South Odisha coasts, warning of extremely heavy rainfall on 27–28 October as a very severe cyclonic storm intensifies over the west-central Bay of Bengal. Both states are under an Orange alert, with several Andhra districts placed under a Red alert for 27 October.
Storm Track and Intensity
As of 11:30 am on 25 October, the system — currently a deep depression — was centred approximately 870 km east-southeast of Visakhapatnam, moving southwestwards at 5 kmph. The IMD projects it will intensify into a cyclonic storm over the east-central Bay of Bengal by the early hours of 26 October, strengthen into a severe cyclonic storm by the morning of 27 October, and escalate further into a very severe cyclonic storm near the Andhra Pradesh coast by 28 October morning.
The storm is expected to cross the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam as a very severe cyclonic storm with maximum sustained wind speeds of 115–125 kmph, gusting up to 140 kmph, by the forenoon of 28 October. This places millions of residents in low-lying coastal districts in the direct path of the system.
District-Level Alerts
Authorities have issued a Red alert for Kakinada, Konaseema, Eluru, East Godavari, West Godavari, and Krishna districts for 27 October. An Orange alert has been placed on Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, Alluri Sitharama Raju, Anakapalli, Guntur, Prakasam, Bapatla, and Nellore. A Yellow alert covers Kadapa, Kurnool, Nandyal, Sri Sathya Sai, Chittoor, Annamayya, Tirupati, and Anantapur districts.
Beyond Andhra Pradesh, the IMD has forecast extremely heavy rainfall in Odisha and Telangana on 28 October and in Chhattisgarh on 28–29 October, signalling a broad regional impact as the system moves inland.
Disaster Management Response
The Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) has advised all fishermen to refrain from venturing into the sea and to ensure their boats and fishing nets are securely tied down at safe locations. APSDMA MD Prakhar Jain specifically cautioned residents against approaching beaches for selfies near high waves — a recurring danger during cyclone events — and urged the public to remain extremely vigilant.
Notably, the Bay of Bengal's warm sea-surface temperatures in October have historically fuelled rapid intensification in systems approaching the Andhra-Odisha coastline. This corridor witnessed Cyclone Hudhud in 2014 and Cyclone Titli in 2018, both of which caused significant casualties and infrastructure damage.
What to Watch Over the Next 72 Hours
The critical 72-hour window runs from the evening of 25 October through the landfall forecast on 28 October forenoon. Evacuation decisions in Red-alert districts, the storm's precise track near Bapatla–Visakhapatnam, and any further intensification beyond the current 'very severe' classification will determine the scale of impact. Residents in coastal and low-lying areas are urged to follow official advisories and avoid unnecessary movement from 27 October onwards.
Point of View
Yet evacuation infrastructure and early-warning reach remain uneven across its fishing communities. The tiered alert system (Red, Orange, Yellow) is a step forward, but its effectiveness depends entirely on last-mile communication in districts where mobile connectivity is inconsistent. October systems in the Bay of Bengal have a record of rapid intensification in the final 24 hours before landfall — the 'very severe' classification could still harden into 'extremely severe' if sea-surface temperatures hold. Disaster preparedness this close to the coast cannot afford to wait for confirmation.
NationPress
25 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is the cyclone expected to make landfall in Andhra Pradesh?
The cyclone is forecast to cross the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam by the forenoon of 28 October 2026 as a very severe cyclonic storm. Maximum sustained winds of 115–125 kmph, gusting to 140 kmph, are expected at landfall.
Which districts in Andhra Pradesh are under Red alert?
Kakinada, Konaseema, Eluru, East Godavari, West Godavari, and Krishna districts have been placed under a Red alert for 27 October. An Orange alert covers Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, Alluri Sitharama Raju, Anakapalli, Guntur, Prakasam, Bapatla, and Nellore.
What other states are at risk from this cyclonic storm?
Beyond Andhra Pradesh, the IMD has forecast extremely heavy rainfall in Odisha and Telangana on 28 October and in Chhattisgarh on 28–29 October. South Odisha is also under an Orange alert issued alongside Andhra Pradesh.
What precautions have authorities advised for residents and fishermen?
The Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority has asked all fishermen to stay off the sea and secure boats and fishing nets in safe locations. APSDMA MD Prakhar Jain has also warned people not to take selfies near high waves on beaches and urged the public to remain extremely vigilant.
How strong is the cyclone currently and how will it intensify?
As of 25 October, the system is a deep depression centred about 870 km east-southeast of Visakhapatnam. It is expected to become a cyclonic storm by 26 October morning, a severe cyclonic storm by 27 October morning, and a very severe cyclonic storm near the Andhra Pradesh coast by 28 October morning.
