Severe Cyclonic Storm Murasu crossed the south Andhra Pradesh coast in the early hours of Tuesday, November 3, 2026, unleashing powerful winds and torrential rainfall across the region. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed that the cyclone made landfall between Nellore and Narsapur, close to Ongole in Prakasam district, between 3:30 AM and 5:30 AM IST.
The landfall brought with it sustained wind speeds of 100-110 kmph, with gusts reaching up to 120 kmph. This intense weather event severely disrupted normal life, leading to widespread heavy rain and strong winds along the Ongole coast and surrounding areas.
Impact Across Coastal Regions
The cyclone's outer rain bands began affecting north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry even before landfall, resulting in continuous showers from midnight. Following Murasu's crossing, heavy rainfall continued to lash several parts of Andhra Pradesh, with the IMD forecasting persistent spells for south coastal Andhra Pradesh over the subsequent 12 hours.
Authorities have advised residents in low-lying coastal areas to remain vigilant. The severe cyclonic storm has raised the risk of inundation, particularly in districts prone to storm surges.
IMD Warnings and Storm Surge Threat
The IMD had previously issued warnings regarding the intensifying storm, which began its landfall process near Ongole around 1:00 AM IST. The forward sector of the wall cloud, the most intense part of the storm, was observed entering the coast around this time.
“The landfall process commenced at 0100 hours IST on November 3. The forward sector of the wall cloud is entering the coast, while the wall cloud region is very close to the coast,” an official IMD press release stated.
A significant concern was the potential for a storm surge, with the IMD forecasting a surge of 1-1.5 meters above the astronomical tide. This surge was expected to inundate low-lying areas of south coastal Andhra Pradesh until Tuesday morning, with the maximum impact projected for Bapatla, Krishna, and Prakasam districts. Residents in these vulnerable areas were urged to take necessary precautions and follow local advisories.