Severe Cyclonic Storm Arnab Hits Andhra Pradesh Coast: IMD Details
Severe Cyclonic Storm Arnab, the first cyclone of 2026 formed over the Bay of Bengal, crossed the Andhra Pradesh coast near Narsapur in West Godavari district. The system was classified as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm by the India Meteorological Department and its name was contributed by Bangladesh.
What happened
Severe Cyclonic Storm Arnab completed its landfall along the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coast on October 28, 2026. The landfall process commenced in the early hours and concluded between 2:00 AM and 8:00 AM IST. The cyclone crossed near latitude 16.45°N and longitude 81.9°E, approximately 20 km east-northeast of Narsapur in the West Godavari district, 40 km southwest of Yanam, and 60 km southwest of Kakinada.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) classified the system as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm at landfall, after which it weakened into a Severe Cyclonic Storm around 8:30 AM IST. At landfall, the cyclone packed maximum sustained surface winds of 125 to 135 km/h, with gusts reaching up to 150 km/h. Andhra Pradesh experienced heavy rainfall exceeding 300 mm by 8:30 AM on October 28, 2026, including 315 mm in Visakhapatnam and 301 mm in Vizianagaram.
The storm caused significant impact, with at least three deaths confirmed in Andhra Pradesh due to falling trees and snapped live electrical wires, including an incident in Bhimavaram, West Godavari. Precautionary evacuations shifted more than 87,000 to over 180,000 people across Andhra Pradesh and Odisha into relief shelters. Severe damage to power infrastructure was reported, including about 6,000 electricity poles uprooted in the Konaseema district. Additionally, the Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier Sigma Pearl was reported stranded near the Ravva oil field off the Konaseema-Kakinada coast.
Important dates
| Cyclone Landfall Date | 28 October 2026 |
|---|
📌 Static GK links
- The Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre (RSMC) in New Delhi, operated by the IMD, is responsible for tracking and naming tropical cyclones in the North Indian Ocean basin including the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea.
- The current WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones (PTC) naming roster comprises 169 names contributed by 13 member nations, with each country contributing 13 names.
What candidates should do
- Note down the name of the cyclone, the contributing country, the IMD classification, and the exact landfall location for upcoming banking, SSC, and state PSC examinations.
- Revise static concepts related to the WMO/ESCAP cyclone naming conventions and the RSMC New Delhi functions.
PrepZen analysis
Severe Cyclonic Storm Arnab holds high relevance for competitive examinations under the Environment and Science current affairs segment. Questions in UPSC Prelims, State PSCs, and banking exams frequently test details regarding tropical cyclones, such as their classification by the IMD, the origin of their names, and affected coastal regions. Furthermore, understanding the institutional framework of the WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones and the role of RSMC New Delhi is essential for static GK preparation.
Practice questions
Q1. Severe Cyclonic Storm Arnab, which crossed the Andhra Pradesh coast, was named by which country?
Q2. Near which location in Andhra Pradesh did Cyclone Arnab make landfall?
Q3. How did the India Meteorological Department (IMD) classify Cyclone Arnab at the time of landfall?
India Meteorological Department classified it as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm.
System marked the initial cyclone of 2026 formed over Bay of Bengal.
Bangladesh contributed the name 'Arnab' for the North Indian Ocean basin.
🎯 Key Point: Cyclone Arnab named by Bangladesh hit Andhra Pradesh coast.
FAQs
What is the meaning of the name 'Arnab'?
The name 'Arnab' means 'ocean' or 'sea' in Bengali.
Which organization tracks and names tropical cyclones in the North Indian Ocean basin?
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) operates the Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre (RSMC) in New Delhi, which is responsible for tracking and officially naming tropical cyclones in the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea.
What was the classification of Cyclone Arnab at landfall?
It was classified as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm by the India Meteorological Department, later weakening into a Severe Cyclonic Storm.
Where did Cyclone Arnab make landfall?
The cyclone crossed the coast near Narsapur in the West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh.
Sources and references
- newsonair.gov.in (newsonair.gov.in) Official
- newindianexpress.com (www.newindianexpress.com)
- bighaat.com (www.bighaat.com)
- unb.com.bd (unb.com.bd)
Prepared by PrepZen for exam preparation. Consult the linked sources for original announcements and current details. Corrections policy. Spotted an error? Write to prepzen.app@gmail.com.
Practice Quiz — 28 October 2026
Q1. Who has been assigned the additional charge as the Director General of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) in October 2026?
Q2. Whom did Anup Bagchi succeed to take charge as the MD & CEO of HDFC Bank?
Q3. Until which date has the tenure of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh been extended?
Q4. In Bihar's newly launched 100-point Performance Assessment Index for banks, which bank secured the top spot, and what score places a bank in the 'Red Zone'?
Q5. Which country contributed the name 'Arnab' for the cyclone that made landfall in Andhra Pradesh?
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