AP Braces for Second Cyclone After Arnab

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported a depression in the south-east Bay of Bengal is gaining strength and could become a cyclone by Monday. This system originated as a low-pressure area over the south-east Bay and adjoining Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

The approaching cyclone is expected to bring intense rain to coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam on Monday, with thunder squalls and wind speeds up to 70 km/hr on Tuesday. Heavy rainfall is also forecast for Rayalaseema on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The weather system is likely to affect a broader region, including Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Telangana, with heavy rain expected on Monday and Tuesday. Kerala and Mahe are set for four consecutive days of heavy rain starting Sunday.

Other parts of the country have already experienced heavy rainfall, with Chodavaram in Coastal Andhra Pradesh recording 50 cm of rain in a 24-hour period. A remnant of cyclone Arnab, now over Uttar Pradesh, contributed to ongoing rain in the region.

Warm sea-surface temperatures of 29-30°C and low vertical wind shear are aiding the formation of the second cyclone. This marks an unusual period of cyclonic activity in the Bay of Bengal, following Arnab's rapid intensification.

Cyclone Murasu may follow a similar rapid development path, though its intensity and trajectory depend on evolving conditions. El Niño years typically shift cyclone formation toward lower latitudes, potentially affecting India's eastern seaboard.