Significant rainfall has been recorded across Odisha following the landfall of Severe Cyclonic Storm Arnab along the Andhra Pradesh coast.
While the intensity of Cyclone Arnab is steadily subsiding, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has cautioned that a new low-pressure system is expected to develop over the South Andaman Sea and adjoining areas shortly.
According to IMD Director General Dr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, the upcoming system will form over the South Andaman Sea within the next 24 hours. However, explicit forecasts regarding its further intensification into a stronger weather system remain to be confirmed.
Meanwhile, Cyclone Arnab—which crossed the Andhra Pradesh coastline near Narsapur early on October 28—has been weakening continuously. Over the past six hours, the system moved slowly north-northwestward at a speed of 7 km/h. It currently sits centered roughly 40 km north-northeast of Narsapur, 40 km west-northwest of Yanam, and 50 km west-southwest of Kakinada. Meteorologists predict the system will continue to move north-northwestward and gradually downgrade into a depression by Thursday morning.
Heavy Rains Lash Districts Across Odisha
Despite the cyclone’s dissipation, its remnant cloud mass triggered widespread heavy to extremely heavy rainfall throughout southern, northern, and central Odisha. Daringbadi recorded the state’s highest rainfall over the last 24 hours at 193 mm, while the capital city of Bhubaneswar logged 66.2 mm.
The Regional Meteorological Centre indicated that Western Odisha and neighboring districts will continue to experience heavy rain over the next 24 hours.
IMD Weather Warnings and Outlook
- Orange Alert (Thursday): Heavy to very heavy rainfall is forecast for Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, and Bargarh districts.
- Yellow Alert (Thursday): Eight adjoining districts are on alert for isolated heavy rainfall accompanied by lightning and thunderstorms.
- Dry Spell (Friday & Saturday): Weather conditions are expected to clear up across most parts of the state with only scattered, light precipitation.
- Fresh Yellow Alerts (Nov 1–2): Due to the influence of the upcoming low-pressure system, yellow alerts for heavy rain have been earmarked for Gajapati, Ganjam, and Puri on November 1, and Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar on November 2.
Night temperatures across the state are projected to drop by around 3°C, with minimal overall weather fluctuation expected over the coming week. Fishermen have been strongly advised against venturing into the rough sea off the Odisha and Andhra Pradesh coasts.
