Andhra, Odisha Brace for 'Very Severe' Cyclonic Storm; Landfall Expected October 28

A cyclonic storm brewing over the Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a 'very severe cyclonic storm,' the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has stated. This intensity would be the second highest, with maximum sustained wind speeds projected between 118 km per hour and 221 km per hour. The storm is expected to make landfall between the northern Andhra Pradesh and southern Odisha coasts on the morning of October 28, specifically between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, with wind speeds of 115–125 kmph, though some weather experts suggest speeds up to 130 kmph.

The Odisha Government activated its disaster response and mitigation machinery on Saturday, October 24, 2026. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi reviewed the State’s preparedness, directing officials to prioritize public safety, evacuation, and emergency response, stressing a zero-casualty objective. The cyclone could affect Odisha's southern and coastal districts, bringing heavy rainfall and gusty winds of 70-90 kmph. Five districts—Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, and Malkangiri—are identified as most likely to be impacted.

Simultaneously, the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) has forecast heavy to very heavy rain at isolated places in Tamil Nadu's Chennai, northern, delta, and western districts. The IMD also issued an orange alert for five districts in Keralam—Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, and Kottayam—for three hours on Sunday, October 25, 2026, predicting 40-50 kilometres per hour winds. An orange alert signifies very heavy rain of 11 cm to 20 cm. In response to heavy inflow, the Kovai Courtallam waterfall in Coimbatore district was closed to visitors on October 25. Jharkhand is also expected to receive rainfall on October 28 and 29, with isolated thunderstorms, lightning, and winds gusting up to 50 kmph, as a low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal intensifies into a cyclonic storm.

Amid these developments, President Droupadi Murmu’s scheduled two-day visit to Odisha from October 28 has been postponed to November 4-5 due to the severe weather forecast. Farmers in Andhra Pradesh's Chittoor and Annamayya regions, who recently received relief from downpours, are now bracing for potential crop destruction. The IMD has issued a red alert for 13 districts on October 27 and 28, underscoring the severity of the approaching storm.

What to watch: Updates on the cyclone's trajectory and the effectiveness of disaster mitigation efforts.

Editor's note: The draft effectively synthesizes information from the provided source and the additional context, maintaining accuracy regarding the cyclone and regional weather alerts.