Odisha is on high alert as a weather system over the Bay of Bengal strengthens into a cyclone, with landfall expected on the morning of Wednesday, October 28, somewhere between the northern Andhra Pradesh coast and the southern Odisha coast. Schools, colleges and childcare centres in five southern Odisha districts will stay closed on October 28 and 29, disaster response teams are on standby, and fishermen have been told to stay away from the sea.
What the forecast says
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), a well-marked low-pressure area over the east-central and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal became a depression on Saturday, October 24. It is expected to deepen into a deep depression on Sunday, October 25, and strengthen into a cyclonic storm by Monday morning, October 26.
Moving west-northwest, the system is then expected to keep intensifying and reach the west-central Bay of Bengal near the Andhra Pradesh coast around the morning of October 28. IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra has said landfall is likely on the morning of October 28 between the northern Andhra Pradesh and southern Odisha coasts. The exact landfall location has not yet been fixed, and forecasts will be refined as the system develops.
The Hindu’s live coverage reports that the storm could strengthen further into a very severe cyclonic storm, with winds of up to around 130 kmph in the Andhra Pradesh landfall zone. For Odisha’s southern districts, the state government has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall with winds of 70–90 kmph.
Odisha’s preparations
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi reviewed the state’s preparedness on Saturday and set a zero-casualty target, drawing on Odisha’s long experience of handling cyclones. Around 60 Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) teams, 17 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams and 225 fire service teams have been put on alert for deployment in the districts most likely to be affected.
Schools, colleges and Anganwadi centres in Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri will remain closed on October 28 and 29. Collectors in other districts can order closures locally depending on how the situation develops. In Ganjam district alone, the administration has kept 100 cyclone centres ready and identified 1,000 temporary places to house people if evacuations are needed.
Officials have been told to move people from vulnerable areas to safer locations, with special priority for elderly people, patients and pregnant women, who should be shifted to health centres. Health facilities in vulnerable areas have been asked to stock anti-snake venom, medicines and medical kits, in anticipation of snakebite cases during flooding and waterlogging. Engineering departments are on standby to clear roads blocked by fallen trees and restore power quickly.
Fishermen have been warned not to venture into the sea, and those already in deep water have been advised to return to the coast immediately. With the harvest season approaching, the chief minister has also asked officials to alert farmers so they can harvest and safely store crops before the heavy rain and winds arrive.
President Droupadi Murmu’s two-day visit to Odisha, planned for October 28 and 29, has been postponed to November 4–5 because of the cyclone. Government employees’ leave has been cancelled in Ganjam, Gajapati, Puri and Khurda districts, and all 30 districts of the state have been asked to stay alert.
Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu also on watch
In neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, authorities are on alert but had not ordered closures or evacuations as of Saturday. The IMD’s track puts the likeliest landfall zone between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, with red alerts for 13 districts. Widespread rainfall is expected from Monday, with heavy to very heavy rain on Tuesday and Wednesday and strong, gusty winds along the coast.
Tamil Nadu is also feeling the system’s effects. The Regional Meteorological Centre has forecast heavy to very heavy rain at isolated places across many districts on Sunday, including Chennai and the northern, delta and western districts. Theni, Dindigul and Madurai districts face extremely heavy rainfall and have been issued red alerts.
Why early warnings matter
Cyclone warnings are issued days ahead of landfall precisely so that evacuations, shelter preparation and stockpiling can happen before conditions turn dangerous. Forecasts of the exact landfall point and wind speeds often shift as a storm develops, which is why authorities update their bulletins regularly and why residents are advised to follow official advisories rather than rumours on social media.
Earlier this week, a powerful earthquake off Vanuatu briefly triggered a tsunami warning that was later lifted once the threat had passed — a reminder that early warnings are precautionary by design and are revised as new information comes in.
Timeline: how the storm is expected to develop
| Date | Expected stage |
|---|---|
| October 24 | Well-marked low-pressure area becomes a depression |
| October 25 | Deepens into a deep depression |
| October 26 | Strengthens into a cyclonic storm by morning |
| October 27 | Heavy rain begins in coastal districts; squally weather, rough seas |
| October 28 | Landfall expected in the morning between northern Andhra Pradesh and southern Odisha coasts; schools closed in five Odisha districts |
| October 29 | Schools remain closed in the five districts; rainfall continues |
What to watch next
The next IMD bulletins will narrow down the landfall location and peak wind speeds, and state governments will update evacuation and closure orders accordingly. The key things to watch are whether the storm strengthens into a very severe cyclonic storm, which districts come under red alerts, and whether Andhra Pradesh orders evacuations from low-lying coastal areas.
Residents in the affected districts should keep emergency supplies ready, charge phones, keep important documents in waterproof bags, avoid travelling during heavy rain and high winds, and never venture into the sea while warnings are in force. Anyone in a low-lying or vulnerable area should follow the instructions of local officials and move to a shelter if asked to do so.
Frequently asked questions
When will the cyclone make landfall?
Landfall is expected on the morning of Wednesday, October 28, somewhere between the northern Andhra Pradesh coast and the southern Odisha coast. The exact location has not yet been confirmed.
Which districts in Odisha are most affected?
Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri are expected to be the worst affected, with heavy to very heavy rainfall and winds of 70–90 kmph. Schools, colleges and Anganwadi centres in these five districts will be closed on October 28 and 29.
How strong will the cyclone be?
The IMD expects the system to become a cyclonic storm by Monday, October 26, and it could strengthen further into a very severe cyclonic storm. Winds of up to around 130 kmph have been mentioned for the Andhra Pradesh landfall zone, while Odisha’s southern districts are forecast to see 70–90 kmph winds.
Are flights and trains affected?
No mass cancellations had been announced as of Saturday, but travellers to Odisha and coastal Andhra Pradesh around October 28 should check with airlines and railways before travelling, as services can be disrupted at short notice during cyclones.
What should residents in coastal areas do?
Follow official advisories, avoid the sea, keep emergency supplies and charged phones ready, and move to a designated shelter if local officials ask you to evacuate. Do not spread or act on unverified forecasts from social media.
Is this the same storm affecting Tamil Nadu?
Yes. The same Bay of Bengal system is bringing heavy rain to Tamil Nadu this weekend, with red alerts for extremely heavy rainfall in Theni, Dindigul and Madurai districts, even though the main landfall is expected further north.
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