Cyclone Murasu: Chennai, Tiruvallur shut schools as storm targets AP coast
Synopsis
Cyclone Murasu is bearing down on the Andhra Pradesh coast with landfall expected between Nellore and Narsapur by Tuesday dawn, packing winds up to 120 kmph. Chennai and Tiruvallur have shut schools under an orange alert, and Tamil Nadu's entire northern coastal belt is on edge — a reminder that India's eastern seaboard cyclone season is far from over.
Key Takeaways
Cyclone Murasu is tracking toward the Andhra Pradesh coast, with landfall between Nellore and Narsapur forecast between 11.30 pm Monday and 4 am Tuesday .
All schools and colleges in Chennai and Tiruvallur are closed on Monday, 3 November as a precautionary measure.
The RMC has issued an orange alert for Chennai and Tiruvallur, warning of 12–20 cm of rain in 24 hours.
Wind speeds at landfall are expected to reach 100–110 kmph , gusting to 120 kmph .
A yellow alert is in place for Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Ranipet, Vellore , and the Nilgiris on Monday.
A thunderstorm and lightning warning is valid across Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal until 5 November .
Cyclone Murasu prompted authorities in Chennai and Tiruvallur to shut all schools and colleges on Monday, 3 November, as the system moved west-northwestwards over the Bay of Bengal, threatening heavy to very heavy rainfall across northern Tamil Nadu. The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) issued an orange alert for both districts, warning of 12 to 20 centimetres of rainfall within 24 hours.
Storm Track and Landfall Forecast
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) bulletin issued at 9.14 pm on Sunday, Murasu was tracking west-northwestwards at 27 kmph over the southwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal. At 2.30 pm on Sunday, the cyclone was positioned approximately 480 kilometres east-southeast of Chennai and 550 kilometres east-southeast of Nellore.
The IMD expects the system to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal by Monday morning before curving northwestwards toward the Andhra Pradesh coast. Landfall is forecast between Nellore and Narsapur sometime between 11.30 pm on Monday and 4 am on Tuesday. Wind speeds during the crossing are expected to reach 100–110 kmph, gusting up to 120 kmph.
Alert Levels Across Tamil Nadu Districts
Beyond the orange alert for Chennai and Tiruvallur, the RMC issued a yellow alert — indicating heavy rainfall of 7 to 11 centimetres — for Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Ranipet, Vellore, and the Nilgiris on Monday. By Tuesday, rainfall warnings narrow to isolated heavy showers in the Nilgiris only.
Squally winds of 55–65 kmph, gusting to 75 kmph, are forecast at isolated locations in Tiruvallur, Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Ranipet, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, and Villupuram, as well as Puducherry, on Monday. Other northern coastal districts may experience winds of 40–50 kmph, gusting to 60 kmph. A thunderstorm and lightning warning with gusty winds of 40–50 kmph is also in force across Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal, remaining valid at isolated locations until 5 November.
Government Response and Disaster Preparedness
The State Revenue Administration and Disaster Management Department has directed all district collectors across northern Tamil Nadu to remain on high alert and activate standard disaster management protocols. The Additional Chief Secretary and Commissioner of Revenue Administration has instructed collectors to mobilise personnel, reinforce preparedness measures, and maintain continuous surveillance of the situation.
All untoward incidents are required to be reported immediately to the State Emergency Operations Centre. This is a standard activation framework that Tamil Nadu has deployed during previous Bay of Bengal cyclones, reflecting the state's experience managing coastline storm threats.
What to Watch Next
The critical window is Monday night through Tuesday pre-dawn, when Murasu is expected to make landfall on the Andhra Pradesh coast. While the storm's primary landfall zone lies across the border, Tamil Nadu's northern coastal belt — including Chennai — remains exposed to intense rain bands and squalls in the lead-up. Residents in affected districts have been advised to follow official advisories and avoid unnecessary movement on Monday.
Point of View
With Tamil Nadu's northern districts absorbing the outer bands. What stands out is the narrow landfall window the IMD has projected, suggesting stronger-than-usual confidence in the track, likely aided by improved satellite and ocean buoy coverage. The real administrative test is not the storm itself but the last-mile preparedness in coastal Andhra Pradesh, where Nellore and Narsapur have historically been vulnerable to inundation. Tamil Nadu's pre-emptive school closures and collector-level mobilisation reflect institutional muscle memory from past cyclones — but those lessons now need to travel northward to the likely landfall zone.
NationPress
2 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is Cyclone Murasu expected to make landfall?
The IMD has forecast landfall between Nellore and Narsapur on the Andhra Pradesh coast between 11.30 pm on Monday, 3 November, and 4 am on Tuesday, 4 November. Wind speeds during the crossing are expected to reach 100–110 kmph, gusting up to 120 kmph.
Why are schools closed in Chennai and Tiruvallur?
District administrations in Chennai and Tiruvallur announced a precautionary holiday on Monday after the Regional Meteorological Centre issued an orange alert for both districts, warning of 12 to 20 centimetres of rainfall within 24 hours due to Cyclone Murasu.
Which Tamil Nadu districts are under weather alerts on Monday?
Chennai and Tiruvallur are under an orange alert, while Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Ranipet, Vellore, and the Nilgiris are under a yellow alert. A broader thunderstorm and lightning warning covers all of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal, valid until 5 November.
How strong is Cyclone Murasu expected to be?
The IMD expects Murasu to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal before landfall. It was tracking at 27 kmph and located about 480 km east-southeast of Chennai as of Sunday afternoon, with winds at landfall projected at 100–110 kmph gusting to 120 kmph.
What disaster management steps has Tamil Nadu taken?
The State Revenue Administration and Disaster Management Department has directed all district collectors to stay on high alert and activate standard disaster management procedures. The Additional Chief Secretary has instructed collectors to mobilise personnel, strengthen preparedness, and report any untoward incidents immediately to the State Emergency Operations Centre.
