Cyclone Murasu: 5 states on rain alert

Heavy rain and strong wind warnings have been issued for five Indian states following the approach of Severe Cyclonic Storm Murasu. The storm is expected to make landfall along the south Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Narsapur early Tuesday. Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema are predicted to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall, with extremely heavy rain at isolated locations.

Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh may also experience an increase in rainfall activity, with varying intensity of rainfall and strong winds.

The IMD has warned of rough sea conditions and potential storm surges in low-lying parts of south coastal Andhra Pradesh, with a possible surge of 1.5-2 meters above the astronomical tide. Wind speeds could reach 70-80 kmph, with gusts up to 90 kmph, by Tuesday morning after landfall, and decrease to 40-50 kmph, with gusts of 60 kmph, by Tuesday evening.

Telangana is forecast to see an increase in rainfall with heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few locations and extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places. Strong winds of 70-80 kmph are expected, decreasing to 40-50 kmph by Tuesday afternoon. Tamil Nadu may also see light to moderate rainfall at many places, with heavy rainfall at isolated locations, and strong winds of 40-50 kmph, with gusts up to 60 kmph, until Tuesday evening.

Odisha and Chhattisgarh are expected to face light to moderate rainfall at many places, with heavy rainfall at isolated locations, and wind speeds of 50-60 kmph, with gusts up to 70 kmph, until Tuesday noon. Sea conditions along the coasts of these states are predicted to remain rough to very rough until the morning of November 4.