Cyclone Arnab: heavy to very heavy rain likely in Mulugu, Kothagudem, Khammam and Mahabubabad; yellow alert for four more Telangana districts

Severe cyclonic storm Arnab is due to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast on 28 October, and its rain will spill well into Telangana. The Meteorological Centre in Hyderabad, in its bulletin issued at 8.30 pm on 27 October, has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places in Mulugu, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Khammam and Mahabubabad districts in the 24 hours from 8.30 am on 28 October. All four are under an orange alert.

Jayashankar Bhupalapally, Suryapet, Warangal and Hanumakonda are under a yellow alert, with heavy rain likely at isolated places. Light to moderate rain or thundershowers are expected at many places across the rest of the state.

Gusts up to 70 kmph

Thunderstorms with lightning and winds of 50-60 kmph, gusting to 70 kmph, are likely in Jayashankar Bhupalapally, Mulugu, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Khammam, Nalgonda, Suryapet, Mahabubabad, Warangal and Hanumakonda. Winds of 30-40 kmph are likely in the remaining districts.

The department has warned of water on roads, flooding in low-lying areas and traffic jams where heavy rain falls, along with falling trees and power poles. It has advised people to shelter in pucca buildings and not under trees. The chairman and managing director of TGNPDCL, Karnati Varun Reddy, has told officials in the cyclone-hit districts to stay on alert and keep power cuts to a minimum.

Hyderabad and the days ahead

Hyderabad should see a generally cloudy sky with light to moderate rain or thundershowers and gusty winds of 30-40 kmph on 28 October, with the impact rated very low in all city zones. Rain should thin out to a few places on 29 and 30 October, and dry weather is forecast across Telangana from 31 October.