Telangana is set to receive widespread rain and thunderstorms on Wednesday, 28 October, as Cyclone Arnab (pronounced Ornab) intensifies over the Bay of Bengal. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) says the system is likely to cross the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts, between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam and close to Yanam. It is expected to make landfall as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm by the forenoon of 28 October.
At landfall, the cyclone is forecast to bring sustained winds of 115–125 kmph, gusting up to 140 kmph. Its effects will be felt across Telangana, with light to moderate rain or thundershowers very likely at many places in the state on 28 October.
In Hyderabad, the sky will stay generally cloudy, with one or two spells of light to moderate rain or thundershowers. Gusty winds of 30–40 kmph are likely. The maximum temperature will be around 29°C and the minimum around 22°C, so nights are expected to be cooler. The city is expected to miss the heaviest rainfall. The impact across Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) zones is rated very low, and no specific heavy-rain warning has been issued for the city.
Several districts have heavy rain alerts, according to IMD updates as of 26 October. The list below shows the districts and their alert levels:
- Orange alert (heavy to very heavy rain, with isolated extremely heavy rain possible in some reports): Mulugu, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Khammam and Mahabubabad.
- Yellow alert (heavy rain): Jayashankar Bhupalapally, Suryapet, Warangal and Hanamkonda.
Thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds are expected at isolated places in the eastern and northeastern districts. Wind speeds may reach 50–60 kmph in orange-alert areas and 30–40 kmph elsewhere. These parts of the state are likely to see the strongest effects, and rain may continue at a few places on 29 October.
