Archive · 23 Sep 2026
Bay of Bengal Deep Depression Nears Andhra-Odisha Coast
A powerful weather system is moving from the Bay of Bengal toward eastern India.
It is currently called a deep depression, not officially a cyclone.
The weather department says it could become stronger and be named Arnab.
It is expected to reach the coast between Visakhapatnam and Gopalpur.
This may happen on Wednesday night or early on September 24.
Andhra Pradesh and Odisha may receive very heavy rain and strong winds.
Parts of West Bengal and several inland states may also get storms and rain.
Some Odisha schools have closed, and emergency workers are ready.
Fishermen have been told to stay on land until September 25.
The IMD said a deep depression was moving west-northwest toward the north Andhra Pradesh–south Odisha coast.
Landfall was forecast between Visakhapatnam and Gopalpur from Wednesday night through the early hours of September 24.
The system was not officially classified as a cyclone, although it could intensify enough to receive the name Arnab.
Orange alerts covered districts in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and several inland states, while earlier red alerts remained for Srikakulam and Vizianagaram.
Heavy rain, lightning, gusty winds, rough seas and flooding risks prompted school closures, emergency preparations and a fishermen ban until September 25.
- Who
- The India Meteorological Department, residents, officials and fishermen in affected coastal and inland areas.
- What
- A deep depression over the Bay of Bengal is moving toward the coast and may intensify into a cyclone named Arnab.
- When
- The latest forecasts placed landfall between Wednesday night, September 23, and the early hours of September 24, 2026; fishermen were told to remain ashore until September 25.
- Where
- The system was near the north Andhra Pradesh–south Odisha coast, with landfall forecast between Visakhapatnam and Gopalpur.
- Why
- The system may produce very heavy rain, thunderstorms, lightning, gusty winds, rough seas, flooding and landslides.
Cyclone-strengthening forecast
Official deep-depression classification
System designation
Cyclone-strengthening forecast
One report described the system as Cyclone Arnab and said it was expected to strengthen further, potentially into a severe cyclone.
Official deep-depression classification
The IMD said it remained a deep depression and had not yet reached the sustained-wind threshold required for official cyclone classification; if it crossed that threshold, it would be named Arnab.
Landfall forecast
Cyclone-strengthening forecast
An earlier forecast placed landfall between Gopalpur and Kalingapatnam, from the evening of September 23 to the morning of September 24.
Official deep-depression classification
The latest IMD forecast placed landfall between Visakhapatnam and Gopalpur by the night of September 23 or early September 24.
Warning severity
Cyclone-strengthening forecast
The expected impacts led to high alerts, including earlier red warnings in Srikakulam and Vizianagaram.
Official deep-depression classification
The latest nowcast placed no district under a red warning, while retaining the earlier red alerts and issuing orange warnings for rain, lightning and winds.
- System status
- A deep depression; the IMD said it had not yet officially become a cyclone.
- Latest reported position
- At 5:30 am on September 23, the system was about 70 km east-southeast of Kalingapatnam and 150 km south of Gopalpur.
- Movement
- The system was moving west-northwest and had slowed to about 8 kmph in the latest IMD update.
- Expected landfall
- Between Visakhapatnam and Gopalpur, from Wednesday night through early September 24.
- Warnings
- Orange alerts were issued across Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and several inland states; reports differed on the total number of states covered.
- Red alerts
- Earlier red alerts for Andhra Pradesh’s Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts remained active, although none applied in the latest nowcast window.
- Safety measures
- Several Odisha schools were closed, officials were placed on standby and fishermen were told to stay ashore until September 25.
Sources
Cyclone 'Arnab' Live Updates: Deep Depression Near Odisha-Andhra Coast, Landfall Likely Tonight; Heavy Rain Alert Issued
Cyclone 'Arnab' in Bay of Bengal strengthens, West Bengal, Odisha, AP on alert
