Cyclone Arnab has completed landfall along the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts, bringing winds of up to 135 kmph and gusts reaching 150 kmph as its powerful core moved inland, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.
Images captured by India’s INSAT-3DS weather satellite on Wednesday morning, October 28, showed the massive storm system over the Indian subcontinent, with extensive cloud bands and a dense central cloud mass interacting with the coastline.
The very severe cyclonic storm crossed the coast between 2 am and 8 am IST, with its centre moving inland near latitude 16.45°N and longitude 81.9°E. The landfall point was around 20 km east-northeast of Narsapur, 40 km southwest of Yanam and 60 km southwest of Kakinada.
The IMD reported that the cyclone maintained maximum sustained winds of 125–135 kmph during landfall, accompanied by gusts of up to 150 kmph.
INSAT-3DS CAPTURES THE STORM’S IMMENSE CLOUD SHIELD
Thermal infrared imagery from INSAT-3DS, captured between 9:30 am and 9:57 am IST, revealed the cyclone’s extensive cloud shield spreading across parts of eastern and southern India and the Bay of Bengal.
The bright white cloud formations in the image represent high, cold cloud tops, which are often associated with deep convection and intense thunderstorms. The curved bands around the storm illustrate its circulation, drawing moist air towards the centre.
Thermal infrared images enable meteorologists to track cloud-top temperatures even in the absence of sunlight. Colder cloud tops can indicate thunderstorms extending high into the atmosphere, although the imagery alone cannot establish surface wind speeds or confirm the cyclone’s precise intensity.
The satellite images also demonstrate that the storm’s effects extend beyond its central circulation. Its rainbands can bring intense precipitation far from the landfall location, raising the risk of waterlogging, flash floods and disruptions in affected districts.
LANDFALL PROCESS COMPLETE, BUT DANGER REMAINS
Although the IMD’s latest observations indicate that the landfall process is over, the cyclone will continue to pose hazards. As it moves farther inland, friction and the loss of its warm-ocean energy source are expected to gradually weaken its winds.
However, heavy rainfall may persist across parts of Andhra Pradesh and neighbouring areas, potentially causing localised flooding and damage. Strong gusts could also uproot trees, damage power lines and disrupt transport services.
The cyclone’s subsequent inland path and the amount of rainfall produced by its remaining cloud bands will be crucial factors in determining the extent of its impact.
Even after a powerful cyclone crosses the coast, its weakening circulation can continue to threaten communities well away from the shoreline.
