Even as the weakening remnants of very severe Cyclone Arnab continue to travel deeper inland on Thursday, a second weather system in the Bay of Bengal has intensified into a low-pressure area, raising concerns over another cyclone in the region.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the second system is currently hovering over the South Andaman Sea near the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
"Under the influence of yesterday’s upper air cyclonic circulation over the South Andaman Sea & neighbourhood, a low-pressure area has formed over the same region at 0530 Hrs IST of today, the 29th October 2026. It is very likely to move west-northwestwards and become a well-marked low-pressure area over the South Andaman Sea and adjoining Andaman & Nicobar Islands during the next 24 hours," the IMD said in its morning bulletin.
Weather officials are yet to forecast whether this system will intensify into another cyclone or what trajectory it might follow. Consequently, no cyclone alerts have been issued for the region so far.
How The IMD Measures Storm Strength
The IMD classifies storm intensities based on wind speed:
- Low-Pressure Area: Wind speeds below 31 km/h
- Depression: Wind speeds between 31 and 49 km/h
- Deep Depression: Wind speeds between 50 and 61 km/h
- Cyclonic Storm: Wind speeds between 62 and 88 km/h
- Severe Cyclonic Storm: Wind speeds between 89 and 117 km/h
- Very Severe Cyclonic Storm: Wind speeds between 118 and 166 km/h
- Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm: Wind speeds between 167 and 221 km/h
- Super Cyclone: Wind speeds exceeding 222 km/h
Cyclone Arnab Weakens Into Depression
Meanwhile, Cyclone Arnab has weakened into a depression after pushing further inland. As of Thursday morning, the system was centred over southern Chhattisgarh and adjoining districts of southern Odisha.
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"The entire system moved with a speed of 18 kmph in the last six hours. It is expected to push further north and lose its steam further, eventually weakening into a well-marked low-pressure system by Thursday evening," Hindustan Times quoted an IMD official as saying.
Cyclone Arnab Updates
- At least nine people have died in Andhra Pradesh as Cyclone Arnab swept through the coastal region, leaving a trail of destruction. Authorities have evacuated more than 20,000 residents, while heavy rains and strong winds damaged crops across roughly 200,000 hectares, The Times of India reported.
- Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has sought assistance from the central government.
- The IMD issued a flash flood risk warning for 13 districts in Andhra Pradesh and Yanam. The high-risk districts include Bapatla, Guntur, NTR, Krishna, Eluru, East Godavari, Kakinada, Alluri Sitarama Raju, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Anakapalli, Parvathipuram Manyam, and West Godavari. The IMD has also forecast heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and lightning across coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam till October 30.
- While no fatalities have been reported in Odisha, the cyclone affected normal life across 17 districts.
- In neighbouring Jharkhand, heavy rain prompted weather authorities to issue an orange alert for six districts till Friday morning.
- Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday spoke with the chief ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Puducherry, Odisha and Chhattisgarh in the wake of Cyclone Arnab, and assured them of full assistance to mitigate the people's hardships.
(With Inputs From Agencies)