On November 2, the India Meteorological Department issued a red alert for Andhra Pradesh and north Tamil Nadu as Cyclone Murasu advances. Landfall is likely between 11:30 pm today and 4:00 am on November 3, between Nellore and Narsapur near Ongole. Winds may reach 100–110 kmph, gusting 120. A storm surge of 1.0–1.5 metres could inundate low-lying south coastal Andhra.
District red alerts today cover Krishna, Guntur, Bapatla, Prakasam and Nellore, with extremely heavy rain risk. North Tamil Nadu and Puducherry face 60–70 kmph winds, gusting 80, from this evening into Tuesday morning. Fishermen are advised to stay off the southwest Bay until November 4 morning. Expect class disruptions and transit delays; track verified updates.
Cyclone Murasu landfall timing and likely track
Murasu is moving west-northwest over the westcentral and adjoining southwest Bay. At 6:00 pm UTC on November 1, it lay about 300 km east of Chennai and 350 km east-southeast of Nellore. IMD expects further intensification into a severe cyclonic storm before landfall in south Andhra during the stated window.
District-wise rain, wind and storm surge forecast
Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema can expect very heavy to extremely heavy rain through November 2–3, with damaging squalls near the core. North Tamil Nadu will see heavy spells and gale-like gusts tonight. IMD projects a 1.0–1.5 metre surge at landfall. Ports have hoisted cautionary signals, and seas will be rough to high; no fishing advised.
School, college and exam changes students must note
Chennai has declared a school holiday for November 2; Tiruvallur has followed, and some reports include colleges. Odisha’s Malkangiri has closed schools and colleges from November 2–4. Andhra students should monitor district collector handles and boards for late-night orders, venue shifts and revised exam slots. Keep admit cards dry and carry extra IDs.
Transport, ports and helplines for live updates
Allow extra travel time and check airline apps, RailMadad and South Coast Railway advisories before leaving. IMD lists local cautionary signals at Visakhapatnam, Kakinada, Gangavaram, Krishnapatnam, Machilipatnam, Nizampatnam and Vadarevu ports. Andhra has activated helplines 112, 1070, 1800-425-0101 and SEOC numbers; 12 NDRF and SDRF teams are positioned. Keep power banks, water and offline maps ready.
The critical window is late tonight into early Tuesday, November 3. Students and parents should confirm class schedules, exam notices and commute options before stepping out. Prioritise official alerts from IMD, APSDMA and district administrations. If you live in surge-prone zones, move early to safer ground and share helplines with neighbours.
