Bhubaneswar, 27 October (H.S.): Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Arnab over the west-central Bay of Bengal was located about 370 km south of Gopalpur in Odisha at 8:30 am on Tuesday, according to the latest bulletin issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The cyclone moved west-northwestwards at a speed of approximately 20 kmph during the preceding six hours and was centred near latitude 16.0°N and longitude 84.3°E over the west-central Bay of Bengal at 8:30 am, the IMD said.

According to the weather agency, the system was located approximately 220 km south-southeast of Visakhapatnam, 240 km east-southeast of Kakinada, 340 km east-southeast of Machilipatnam and 410 km east of Bapatla. It was also situated around 1,030 km west-northwest of Sri Vijaya Puram in the Andaman Islands.

The cyclone is very likely to continue moving west-northwestwards until the evening of Tuesday. Thereafter, it is expected to move northwestwards towards the Andhra Pradesh coast, the IMD said.

The IMD has forecast that the Very Severe Cyclonic Storm will cross the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, close to Yanam, by the forenoon of October 28.

At the time of landfall, the system is expected to maintain maximum sustained wind speeds of 125–135 kmph, with gusts reaching up to 150 kmph.

The forecast indicates the potential for severe weather conditions along the coastal belt as the cyclone approaches land.

The latest bulletin comes as authorities in the region monitor the storm's movement and prepare for its potential impact.

Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda