Cyclone alert: severe storm to hit Andhra Pradesh coast on October 28
India's weather department says a Bay of Bengal depression will grow into a very severe cyclonic storm and cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam on October 28, with winds up to 140 km/h.
At a glance
- A depression over the east-central Bay of Bengal is forecast to become a cyclonic storm by the morning of October 26, a severe cyclonic storm by October 27 and a very severe cyclonic storm by October 28.
- The India Meteorological Department (IMD) expects it to cross the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coast between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam around the forenoon of Wednesday, October 28.
- Winds at landfall are forecast at 115–125 km/h, gusting to 140 km/h, with heavy to extremely heavy rain in coastal Andhra Pradesh and southern Odisha.
- Odisha has red alerts for Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri on October 28. Cyclone warning signals are up at nine ports, including Chennai.
- Fishermen have been told not to go to sea off the Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coasts on October 27 and 28.
A storm system in the Bay of Bengal is expected to strengthen into a very severe cyclonic storm and hit the coast of Andhra Pradesh, India, around the morning of Wednesday, October 28, 2026, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Sunday. The IMD forecasts landfall between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam with sustained winds of 115–125 km/h, gusting to 140 km/h, and heavy rain is expected across coastal Andhra Pradesh and southern Odisha from October 27 to 29.
Ports along India's east coast have raised cyclone warning signals, fishermen have been told to stay ashore, and Odisha has put five southern districts on red alert.
Where the storm is now
At 5:30 am India time on Sunday, the depression was centred over the east-central and adjoining south-east Bay of Bengal, near latitude 15.3°N and longitude 91.2°E. It had been drifting slowly south-east at about 5 km/h, with winds of 35–45 km/h gusting to 55 km/h, according to IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra.
| Distance from the system | Direction |
|---|---|
| About 440 km | NNW of Sri Vijaya Puram (Andaman and Nicobar Islands) |
| About 880 km | ESE of Visakhapatnam |
| About 980 km | ESE of Kakinada |
| About 1,080 km | E of Machilipatnam |
| About 1,150 km | E of Bapatla |
The forecast: day by day
| When | Expected strength | Movement |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday, Oct 25 | Deep depression | Nearly southwards |
| Monday morning, Oct 26 | Cyclonic storm | Recurves west-north-west |
| Tuesday morning, Oct 27 | Severe cyclonic storm | West-north-west over the Bay |
| Wednesday morning, Oct 28 | Very severe cyclonic storm | North-west, landfall between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam |
If it reaches cyclone strength, the storm will receive a name from the regional list used for the North Indian Ocean.
Alerts and warnings
The IMD warned of possible damage to plantations, horticulture and standing crops, mud and thatched houses, power and communication lines and embankments, along with local flooding, waterlogging, traffic disruption and a risk of landslides in hilly areas.
In Odisha, which is expected to feel heavy rain and strong winds even though the direct hit is forecast in Andhra Pradesh:
| Date | Red alert | Orange alert | Yellow alert |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 27 | — | 7 districts | 12 districts |
| Oct 28 | Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri | 18 districts | 7 districts |
| Oct 29 | — | 6 districts | 11 districts |
Distant Cautionary Signal No. 1 is to be raised at all Odisha ports. In Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, cyclone warning signals have been hoisted at nine ports, including Chennai, Nagapattinam, Cuddalore, Karaikal, Pamban and Thoothukudi. Puducherry has had continuous rain since Saturday night, with waterlogging on several roads.
Fishermen have been told not to venture into the sea along and off the Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coasts on October 27 and 28, and those already at sea should return.
Background
The October–December season is the main cyclone season in the Bay of Bengal, and the Andhra-Odisha coastline is one of the most cyclone-prone in the world. Cyclone Montha hit the same stretch of coast near Kakinada in late October 2025, damaging about 43,000 hectares of crops. Earlier storms such as Hudhud in 2014, which struck Visakhapatnam, and Titli in 2018 caused severe damage. Over the past two decades India has sharply reduced cyclone deaths through early warnings and large-scale evacuations.
Why it matters
The forecast landfall zone includes Visakhapatnam, a city of more than two million people and a major port and naval base, as well as the farming districts of the Godavari and Krishna deltas, where rice and other crops are close to harvest. Power cuts, flight and train cancellations and crop losses are likely if the storm reaches the forecast strength. Heavy rain could also cause flooding in southern Odisha's hill districts.
What happens next
The IMD will issue regular bulletins as the system intensifies, and state disaster management authorities in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha are expected to begin moving people from low-lying coastal villages before landfall. The track and strength can still change, so residents should follow official updates.
Safety advice
- Follow IMD and state disaster authority updates and evacuation orders.
- Stay indoors during the storm and away from the coast and low-lying areas.
- Secure loose objects, charge phones and keep drinking water, food, medicines and a torch ready.
- Unplug electrical appliances and avoid fallen power lines and flooded roads.
Questions people are asking
When will the cyclone hit Andhra Pradesh?
The IMD forecasts the storm will cross the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coast between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam around the forenoon of Wednesday, October 28, 2026, as a very severe cyclonic storm.
How strong will the cyclone be at landfall?
The IMD expects maximum sustained winds of 115–125 km/h, gusting to 140 km/h, which is the 'very severe cyclonic storm' category. Heavy to extremely heavy rain is also forecast.
Which Odisha districts are on red alert?
Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri are on red alert for October 28, with orange and yellow alerts for many other districts from October 27 to 29.
