Cyclone Arnab forecast to cross Andhra coast near Yanam

The India Meteorological Department said Cyclone Arnab could strengthen into a very severe cyclonic storm on October 27 and cross the Andhra Pradesh coast near Yanam the following morning, prompting emergency preparations in Odisha and rain-related school closures in Tamil Nadu. The forecast places the crossing between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, close to Yanam, by the forenoon of October 28. The IMD projected sustained winds of 115-125 kmph, with gusts reaching 140 kmph. The storm was over the east-central and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal at 8:30 a.m. on October 26, moving west at 15 kmph, the department said. The IMD also forecast heavy to very heavy rain in Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam on October 27 and 28, with extremely heavy rain possible at isolated locations. Heavy rain could continue in parts of those areas on October 29. The forecast remains a projection; the storm’s eventual track, strength and impacts had not been established in the reports. Odisha has deployed 24 Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force teams and six National Disaster Response Force teams in vulnerable southern districts, and prepared cyclone shelters. Schools, colleges and anganwadi centres...