Bhubaneswar/New Delhi: A storm surge of 1.5 to 2.5 metres above the astronomical tide is likely during the landfall of the Very Severe Cyclonic Storm ‘Arnab’, according to the latest bulletin issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The surge is expected to inundate low-lying areas of Andhra Pradesh over the next six hours, the bulletin stated. The maximum storm surge is likely in areas around Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh and Yanam in the Union Territory of Puducherry.

The cyclone is expected to make landfall between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, south of Yanam, between 2 am and 4 am on October 28. Wind speeds during landfall are likely to reach 125–135 kmph, with gusts of up to 150 kmph.

According to the IMD, the cyclonic storm was centred over the west-central Bay of Bengal, approximately 80 km southeast of Kakinada, 90 km east of Narsapur, 120 km south of Tuni and 140 km east-northeast of Machilipatnam in Andhra Pradesh.

The system was packing maximum sustained winds of 150–160 kmph near its centre, with gusts reaching 170 kmph.

The cyclone moved west-northwestwards at a speed of 18 kmph during the six hours preceding the latest bulletin.