Update to our October 27 report: Cyclone Arnab has now made landfall.
October 28, 2026 — Cyclone Arnab came ashore on the Andhra Pradesh coast early Wednesday as a very severe cyclonic storm and then began to weaken. Airports at Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada and Rajahmundry stayed shut, dozens of trains were cancelled, and heavy rain is forecast to continue into Thursday.
Landfall
- Where and when: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) placed the crossing about 40 km southwest of Yanam and 60 km southwest of Kakinada. The landfall process ran from about 02:00 to 08:00 IST on October 28.
- Strength: Winds were estimated at 125–135 km/h, gusting to 150 km/h, at landfall. By 12:30 IST Arnab had weakened to a severe cyclonic storm. It is expected to become a deep depression and keep moving north-northwest.
- Casualties and damage: The National Disaster Response Force reported three deaths in Andhra Pradesh, at least two of them from fallen live wires. Trees and power poles were brought down, power was cut in places, and the Uppada coastal road was washed out.
- Evacuations: More than 180,000 people were moved to safety across Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, according to The Watchers.
Flights and trains
| Service | Status |
|---|---|
| Visakhapatnam airport | Flights suspended since the afternoon of Oct. 27; restart TBA |
| Vijayawada and Rajahmundry airports | Flights suspended since 7 p.m. Oct. 27; restart TBA |
| Airlines | Air India, Air India Express, IndiGo and Akasa Air cancelled flights on Oct. 27–28. Flights at Bhubaneswar, Hyderabad and some northern Indian airports may be delayed. |
| Trains | 64 services cancelled for Oct. 27–28 (Down To Earth); earlier reports put the total above 90 with diversions. Affected trains include the Falaknuma, Godavari, Gowthami, Garib Rath and Visakha Expresses. |
What’s next
The IMD forecasts heavy to very heavy rain, with isolated extremely heavy falls, over coastal Andhra Pradesh, southern Odisha and southern Chhattisgarh, plus flood and landslide risk in eastern Telangana. A storm surge of 0.5–1 m is possible in low-lying coastal areas. Heavy rain is still expected in parts of Andhra Pradesh on Thursday, October 29, and fishing is banned until then. Dates for restoring flights, trains and power are TBA.
What it means for travelers
- Don’t plan to fly into Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada or Rajahmundry until the airports confirm they have reopened. When flights restart, the first ones will carry passengers from cancelled flights, so open seats will be scarce for several days.
- Allow extra time if you’re connecting through Hyderabad or Bhubaneswar to or from the coast. Weather delays there can make a tight connection fail.
- Look up your train by number and date on Indian Railways channels. Cancellations vary by train and by day.
- Expect damaged roads, fallen trees and power cuts in coastal districts. Stay away from beaches, rivers and downed power lines.
- Register with STEP (US) or Registration of Canadians Abroad. Check whether your travel insurance covers weather delays and extra hotel nights.
Sources
- The Watchers — Cyclone Arnab leaves 3 dead after landfall in Andhra Pradesh, India
- Down To Earth — Cyclone Arnab weakens after landfall in Andhra Pradesh
- Business Today — Cyclone Arnab: Air India, IndiGo flights cancelled
- India.com — Cyclone Arnab landfall: flights cancelled, over 90 train services affected
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