Cyclone Murasu skirts Chennai, heads to south Andhra Pradesh as ports stay

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Having come closest to Chennai coast at about 200 km over the seas, Murasu appeared to have skirted the city and was now heading towards its likely landfall zone along the South Andhra coast.

By Vinson Kurian

Updated - November 02, 2026 at 10:52 AM.

Severe cyclone Murasu probed Chennai with outer rain bands but skirted the coast on Monday morning as it raced towards the south Andhra Pradesh coast for a landfall beginning midnight tonight. | Photo Credit: www.meteologix.com/in

Severe cycloneMurasu sent its outer rain bands to Chennai while skirting the coast, and is racing towards South Coastal Andhra Pradesh, with landfall expected between Nellore and Narsapur, close to Ongole, around midnight on Monday or in the early hours of Tuesday (by 4 am). Ports along the south Andhra Pradesh coast are on high alert as the storm threatens to unleash damaging winds, storm surges and high waves.

Close shy with Chennai

India Meteorological Department (IMD) said Murasu intensified into a severe cyclonic storm and lay over the west-central and adjoining south-west Bay of Bengal at 5.30 am on Monday. Its centre was located about 200 km east-northeast of Chennai; 210 km east-southeast of Nellore; 270 km south-southeast of Machilipatnam; 220 km east-southeast of Kavali; and 260 km southeast of Ongole.

Having come closest to the Chennai coast at about 200 km, the cyclone appeared to have skirted the city and was now heading towards its likely landfall zone along the South Andhra coast. The IMD expects it to cross the coast as a severe cyclone, packing sustained wind speeds of 100-110 km/hr and gusts of up to 120 km/hr.

Ports brace for impact

The approaching cyclone has triggered a stepped-up alert across the coastal port infrastructure. Great Danger Signal Number 10, indicating an exceptionally severe threat, has been hoisted at Nizampatnam and Vadarevu ports, while Machilipatnam has been placed under Great Danger Signal Number 9. Krishnapatnam port is under Great Danger Signal Number 8. Visakhapatnam, Bheemunipatnam, Gangavaram, Kakinada and Kalingapatnam ports have hoisted Local Cautionary Signal Number 3.

High waves, coastal flooding

Bapatla, along with Krishna and Prakasam district on the south Andhra Pradesh coast, is expected to bear the brunt of the storm surge. The IMD has warned that a surge of about 3.2-5 feet above the astronomical tide could inundate low-lying coastal areas of South Andhra Pradesh around the time of landfall.

The threat extends beyond the immediate landfall zone. A high-wave warning has been issued for the East Godavari coast between Antarvedi and Perumallapuram, where waves of 10-16 feet are forecast from 2.30 pm on Monday until 11.30 am on Tuesday. Small vessels have been advised to remain ashore, while nearshore recreational activities must be suspended. Coastal erosion and wave-induced surges are also possible.

Halt to fishing operations

Fishing operations have been ordered to remain suspended along the coast. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea along or off the coast from Monday through Wednesday. The state Fisheries Department and fishing harbour authorities have been asked to alert fishing communities and closely monitor subsequent IMD marine warnings. Fishermen have also been urged to plan their activities strictly in accordance with the latest area-specific advisories, which will remain crucial as the cyclone approaches and crosses the coast. 

Published on November 2, 2026

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