The Meteorological Centre in Visakhapatnam has issued a red alert for coastal Andhra Pradesh for November 2 and 3 as the deep depression over the Bay of Bengal approached the Andhra coastline.
An orange alert was issued for the Rayalaseema region for the next two days.
As of Sunday morning, the cyclonic storm Murasu was located around 660 km south-southeast of Visakhapatnam
The cyclone is very likely to move west-northwestwards and intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal by the morning of November 2, the IMD said. The
It is then expected to move northwestwards and cross the south Andhra Pradesh coast as a severe cyclonic storm, with wind speeds of 100-110 kmph gusting to 120 kmph, between Nellore and Narsapur during the night of November 2 and the early hours of November 3.
The cyclone is expected to cross the coast between Nellore and Narasapuram.
The meteorological department warned that both the coastal and Rayalaseema districts are set to face heavy to very heavy rains for the next few days,
A red alert has been issued for three districts, Krishna, Guntur and Bapatla. Residents in the district have been warned not to step outside unless there is an emergency.
On Monday heavy to very heavy rains are expected in West Godavari, Eluru, NTR, Krishna, Guntur, Bapatla, Palnadu, Prakasam, Markapuram, Nellore and Tirupati districts on Monday.
Heavy rains can be expected at isolated places in East Godavari, Dr BR Ambedkar Konaseema, Chittoor, Kadapa, Annamayya and Nandyal districts.
On Tuesday, very heavy rains can be expected at isolated places in Visakhapatnam, Anakapalle, Vizianagaram, Nellore, Tirupati, Chittoor, Kurnool, Nandyal, Kadapa and Annamaya districts.
Residents from low-lying areas are being asked to evacuate, and arrangements are being made for them,
The Andhra Pradesh Disaster Management Authority (APDMA) said that the storm has been moving at a speed of 23 km per hour for the past 6 hours.
Fishermen have been warned not to venture out to sea until Wednesday.
