Very severe cyclonic storm Arnab struck the Andhra Pradesh coast in the early hours of Wednesday, October 28, 2026, triggering widespread gale-force winds, intense storm surges, and torrential downpours across multiple coastal districts. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed that the system's northern spiral band crossed the shoreline near Narsapur and south of Yanam, maintaining sustained wind speeds between 125 and 135 kmph, with peak gusts touching 150 kmph.
The landfall process officially commenced at approximately 1:20 a.m. along the coastal stretch between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam. According to operational tracking updates published by The Hindu, the core of the severe storm lingered close to the coastline for several hours, extending the high-impact landfall duration across eastern maritime zones.
Aviation Safety Measures and Infrastructure Disruptions
As the storm made contact with land, the Ministry of Civil Aviation convened an urgent operational review to monitor flight corridors and evaluate passenger terminal safety. Officials indicated that flight schedules into coastal Andhra Pradesh and southern Odisha, including key operations at Bhubaneswar airport, experienced severe delays, diversions, or temporary suspensions to safeguard travelers from severe low-altitude wind shear and torrential rainfall.
District administrations across seven coastal jurisdictions maintained active red alerts, enforcing precautionary evacuations and establishing round-the-clock emergency operations centers. Port operations along the Kakinada, Visakhapatnam, and Machilipatnam corridors remained suspended as heavy storm surges threatened low-lying settlements.
Tracking Cyclone Arnab: Operational Metrics and Timeline
| Parameter | Reported Metric / Operational Milestone |
|---|---|
| Storm Intensity Classification | Very Severe Cyclonic Storm (VSCS) |
| Landfall Inception Time | ~1:20 AM IST, Wednesday (October 28, 2026) |
| Primary Landfall Zone | Andhra Pradesh Coast (Between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, near Yanam) |
| Sustained Wind Speed | 125 to 135 kmph |
| Maximum Gust Capacity | Up to 150 kmph |
| Primary Aviation Impact Zones | Coastal Andhra Pradesh terminals, Southern Odisha, Bhubaneswar |
Atmospheric Conditions and Dissipation Path
Tropical cyclones in the northern Indian Ocean draw their primary kinetic energy from warm sea surface temperatures and moisture-rich maritime boundary layers. As the center of Cyclone Arnab crosses inland topography, the immediate cut-off from warm ocean water, coupled with surface friction against land features, initiates a gradual weakening sequence from a very severe cyclonic storm down to a deep depression over the interior Deccan plateau.
Disaster relief teams and national emergency responders remain deployed across vulnerable districts through Wednesday afternoon to facilitate rapid debris clearing, power line restoration, and flood mitigation efforts.
