‘Moraasu’ has intensified into a severe cyclonic storm over the Bay of Bengal. It is currently moving forward at a speed of 20 kmph. It is centered 260 km from Chennai and 470 km from Visakhapatnam. At present, wind speeds near the center of the cyclone range from 90 to 100 kmph. It is expected to make landfall near Ongole—between Nellore and Narsapur in southern Andhra Pradesh—sometime between midnight tonight and early tomorrow morning. At the time of landfall, sustained wind speeds will be between 100 and 110 kmph, potentially reaching up to 120 kmph in gusts. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected in most parts of Coastal Andhra Pradesh today and tomorrow, with the possibility of extremely heavy rainfall in some districts. Alerts have been issued for the Krishna, Guntur, Bapatla, Prakasam, Nellore, Eluru, and West Godavari districts. Similarly, between today and the 4th, most areas in South Odisha may experience light to moderate rainfall, with heavy to very heavy rainfall likely in some places. Five districts in South Odisha face the risk of heavy rainfall.
Furthermore, there is a possibility of heavy rainfall accompanied by gusty winds in the regions of Tamil Nadu, Rayalaseema, and Telangana. Due to rough sea conditions, fishermen have been advised not to venture into the Bay of Bengal or along the coasts of Andhra Pradesh and southern Odisha until November 4. As there is a risk of damage to ‘kutcha’ (temporary/fragile) houses, electricity poles, and trees, the administration is relocating people from low-lying areas to safer places. NDRF and ODRAF teams have been kept on high alert.
