Cyclone Arnab is approaching India’s east coast, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting landfall in Andhra Pradesh on October 28, 2026. The storm is likely to make landfall between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, with the threat concentrated over north Andhra Pradesh and central coastal districts. As of the latest update on October 25, 2026, Odisha has mobilised 225 teams across five districts and its chief minister has reviewed precautionary measures.
Reports tracking the storm say Cyclone Arnab is likely to make landfall between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, placing the Andhra Pradesh coast between those two towns squarely in its probable path. The IMD’s forecast of an October 28 landfall in Andhra Pradesh narrows the window considerably, though the precise touchdown point remains to be confirmed as the storm moves closer to shore. The stretch of coastline between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam falls across parts of Andhra Pradesh’s central coast, an area with densely populated fishing and farming communities.
The IMD has forecast landfall in Andhra Pradesh on October 28, giving coastal districts roughly three days of lead time as of the latest update on October 25. The current reports do not specify an exact hour, wind speed, central pressure, or expected storm surge — details that usually appear in the IMD’s subsequent bulletins as a cyclone nears the coast.
The threat looms over north Andhra Pradesh and central coastal districts, according to the latest assessments. These stretches of coast typically bear the brunt of cyclones in the Bay of Bengal in the form of strong winds, heavy rainfall, and storm surge, and they are often evacuated or put on high alert days in advance. Odisha, although not the projected landfall state, has also swung into action, mobilising 225 teams across five districts as a precaution given its long coastline and history of severe cyclones.
Odisha has mobilised 225 teams across five districts ahead of the storm’s arrival, and the state’s chief minister has personally reviewed precautionary measures. While the current reports do not name the specific districts or the type of teams deployed, pre-positioning district teams is standard practice in Odisha, a state that has rebuilt its disaster response architecture after some of India’s deadliest cyclones.
Odisha shares a long coastline with Andhra Pradesh, so state governments prepare early even when landfall is expected outside their borders. The mobilisation of 225 teams across five districts suggests authorities are treating the storm as a potential threat until tracking data confirms otherwise. Early mobilisation is cheaper and safer than delayed evacuation once winds strengthen and seas churn.
Cyclones in the North Indian Ocean — covering the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea — are named from a pre-agreed list coordinated by the World Meteorological Organization and the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. Thirteen countries contribute names, which are issued in alphabetical order as storms reach naming criteria, and names of especially destructive cyclones are retired out of respect. The name ‘Arnab’ comes from this list; the current reports do not specify which country proposed it.
The India Meteorological Department has forecast landfall in Andhra Pradesh on October 28, with the storm expected to arrive between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam. Updates from the IMD are the most closely watched source of information during such events, with cyclone alerts stepping up in frequency as landfall approaches. The current reports do not detail expected rainfall totals, wind intensity, or surge heights, and those figures are expected to follow in later alerts.
As the storm approaches, the key indicators to watch are the IMD’s subsequent bulletins and district-level advisories. Landfall is forecast for October 28, but the storm’s exact track, intensity, and effects can still shift until it is close to the coast. Coastal residents in the threatened districts should monitor official alerts and follow district authorities’ instructions on evacuation, sheltering, and sea safety.
| What to watch | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| IMD bulletins between Oct 25-28 | Updated track and landfall timing |
| Wind speed estimates | Determines warning class and closures |
| Rainfall forecasts | Flood and waterlogging risk |
Details such as the storm’s wind speed, rainfall projections, and storm surge estimates have not yet been published in the current round of reports; this article will be updated as official bulletins provide them. Until then, the headline facts stand: Cyclone Arnab is likely to make landfall in Andhra Pradesh on October 28, between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, with north Andhra Pradesh and central coastal districts under threat and Odisha’s 225 teams across five districts on standby.
The IMD forecasts landfall in Andhra Pradesh on October 28, 2026. The storm is expected to arrive between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, and as of the October 25 update the threat was concentrated over north Andhra Pradesh and central coastal districts, with Odisha having mobilised 225 teams across five districts as a precaution.
Cyclone Arnab is likely to make landfall between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam on the Andhra Pradesh coast. The IMD has forecast landfall in Andhra Pradesh on October 28, and the stretch between those two towns covers parts of central Andhra Pradesh, with north Andhra Pradesh and central coastal districts under watch.
Odisha has mobilised 225 teams across five districts ahead of the storm, and the state's chief minister has reviewed precautionary measures. The current reports do not name the specific districts or team types involved, but the move reflects Odisha's standard pre-landfall preparation practice along its cyclone-prone coastline.
No. As of the latest reports dated October 25, 2026, official bulletins have forecast landfall in Andhra Pradesh on October 28, between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, but have not stated wind speeds, rainfall totals, or storm surge heights. Those details typically appear in subsequent alerts as the cyclone nears the coast.
Cyclones in the North Indian Ocean are named from a rotating list contributed by 13 countries and coordinated by the World Meteorological Organization with the UN's regional commission for Asia and the Pacific. Names are issued alphabetically as storms reach naming criteria, and devastating cyclones' names are retired. The current reports do not say which country proposed 'Arnab'.
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