Cyclone Arnab hits India’s data-center coast, where Google, Adani and Airtel plan to invest $15 billion in a hyperscale data center

Cyclone Arnab ravaged part of eastern India's coast, home to a $15 billion investment in data centers by Google, Adani and Airtel. The storm killed three, damaged property, and submerged 200,000 acres of farmland in Andhra Pradesh. Meteorologists attribute its strength to unusually warm ocean temperatures and a warming atmosphere's increased moisture-holding capacity.

The region's recent weak monsoon and El Niño weather pattern have exacerbated dryness, leading to droughts. While climate change amplifies cyclones' rainfall, extreme weather also threatens existing livelihoods and future growth infrastructure. Past extreme weather has already cost India $170 billion in losses from 1995 to 2024.

The economic and indirect costs of extreme weather are significant, particularly for small businesses and farmers lacking insurance. Infrastructure planning for data centers must account for future climate conditions, including flood-proofing and stronger electricity grids.