Andhra Pradesh and Odisha on alert as a cyclone nears the coast

India's weather department has issued a pre-cyclone watch for Andhra Pradesh and southern Odisha. A system over the Bay of Bengal is forecast to become a cyclonic storm by Oct 26 and keep intensifying.

Andhra Pradesh coast

The storm is forecast to cross the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts, between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, on the morning of Oct 28.

Forecast sustained winds

115-125 km/h at landfall

Winds at landfall are forecast at 115 to 125 km/h, with gusts up to 140 km/h.

People should remain extremely alert.

— Prakhar Jain, Andhra Pradesh disaster agency