Cyclone Arnab made landfall along India’s eastern coast early Wednesday, October 28, 2026, affecting life in coastal areas and leading to the evacuation of over 137,000 people from Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. The cyclone entered the coastal region of Andhra Pradesh around 3:45 AM on Wednesday, with wind speeds reaching 125 to 135 kilometres per hour.
The landfall process began around 1:20 AM on October 28, 2026, between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, near south of Yanam, and was expected to continue for several hours. Wind speeds during landfall were between 125-135 kmph, with gusts up to 150 kmph. As of Wednesday, no loss of life has been reported in Andhra Pradesh.
Background
- Cyclone Arnab is the first named cyclone of the 2026 season in the Bay of Bengal.
- The naming of Cyclone Arnab was contributed by Bangladesh to the list of names for tropical cyclones in the North Indian Ocean.
- The peak cyclone season in the North Indian Ocean typically occurs from May to November.
- The last very severe cyclonic storm to make landfall in Andhra Pradesh was Cyclone Titli on October 11, 2018.
Approximately 90,000 people were evacuated from Andhra Pradesh and about 48,000 from Odisha, with thousands of shelters established to accommodate those affected. Heavy rainfall has been reported in several parts of Kakinada and Visakhapatnam, leading to waterlogging. Visakhapatnam recorded up to 263 mm of rainfall in 24 hours. In Konaseema district, approximately 6,000 electric poles were uprooted. Large waves have damaged coastal roads, including at Chennai’s Ennore beach where 20-foot high waves caused waterlogging and hindered traffic. A highway in Puducherry’s Yanam region was closed after strong winds uprooted trees.
The cyclone has caused significant disruption to transport, with over 90 train services and flights to and from coastal Andhra Pradesh and southern Odisha, including Bhubaneswar, affected. Schools in 16 districts of Odisha were closed, and similar closures were enacted in several districts of Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Widespread impact and warnings
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued warnings for heavy rainfall and strong winds across 13 states expected to be affected by the cyclone. These states include Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Telangana, Odisha, West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Maharashtra.
The IMD forecasts rain for Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi on Thursday, October 29, 2026. Some areas in Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi may also experience hail. Yellow alerts have been issued for potential rainfall in West Bengal, Sikkim, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Rayalaseema, Konkan-Goa, central Maharashtra, Marathwada, Vidarbha, eastern Rajasthan, and western Madhya Pradesh.
Fishermen have been advised by the IMD not to venture into the sea until the morning of October 30, 2026. Fishermen in Tamil Nadu’s Thoothukudi district have not gone fishing for the third consecutive day.
Background of Cyclone Arnab
Cyclone Arnab is the first named cyclone of the 2026 season in the Bay of Bengal. The naming of Cyclone Arnab was contributed by Bangladesh to the list of names for tropical cyclones in the North Indian Ocean. The peak cyclone season in the North Indian Ocean typically occurs from May to November. The last very severe cyclonic storm to make landfall in Andhra Pradesh was Cyclone Titli on October 11, 2018.
Rainfall is expected to continue in some areas on Thursday, October 29, 2026, accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning. Authorities have advised residents to follow official weather bulletins and instructions from local administrations. The full extent of damage to infrastructure and agriculture is yet to be fully assessed.
