The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has announced that Cyclone Murasu, which had been hovering over the west-central and southwest Bay of Bengal, intensified into a severe cyclonic storm early this morning. As of 8:30 a.m., the system was located approximately 180 kilometers northeast of Chennai, 180 kilometers east-southeast of Nellore, 210 kilometers southeast of Ongole, and 240 kilometers south of Machilipatnam.
According to the IMD, the cyclone has been moving in a west-northwest direction at a speed of 22 km/h over the past six hours. It is projected to continue on this path, making landfall as a severe cyclonic storm between Nellore and Narasapur, specifically south of Ongole, between 11:30 p.m. tonight and 4:00 a.m. tomorrow, November 3. During landfall, wind speeds are expected to reach 100 to 110 km/h, with occasional gusts peaking at 120 km/h.
The proximity of the storm has already triggered significant rainfall across Chennai, leading to waterlogging in several parts of the city. Rainfall data from the past 24 hours indicates that Madhavaram received 11 cm of rain, while Ennore Port and Nungambakkam each recorded 10 cm.
In response to the severe weather, authorities have declared a holiday for schools in the Chennai and Tiruvallur districts. The Chennai Airport administration has also confirmed the cancellation of several flights, advising passengers to contact their respective airlines for updates. Furthermore, the weather department has issued an orange alert for six districts in Telangana and a yellow alert for five others.
