🌀 Cyclone Watch: Low Pressure May Become “Arnab” by October 26
⏱ 3 min read · 603 words
A low-pressure area that formed over the Bay of Bengal on October 23 is expected to become a depression today and may intensify into Cyclone Arnab by October 26, moving towards Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. Very heavy rain is forecast for Kanniyakumari, Coimbatore, the Nilgiris and the Tirunelveli ghats.
A low-pressure area that formed over the Bay of Bengal on October 23 is expected to become a depression today and may intensify into Cyclone Arnab by October 26, moving towards Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. Very heavy rain is forecast for Kanniyakumari, Coimbatore, the Nilgiris and the Tirunelveli ghats.
A low-pressure area formed over the east-central and southeast Bay of Bengal at 5:30 am on Friday, October 23, 2026. The India Meteorological Department expects it to strengthen step by step and move away from Tamil Nadu towards the north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha coasts — but it will keep the northeast monsoon active over the State.
Oct 24Depression
Oct 25Deep depression
Oct 26Cyclonic storm “Arnab”
1070State helpline
How the System May Develop
Date
Expected stage
Fri, Oct 23
Low-pressure area forms over the Bay of Bengal
Sat, Oct 24
Depression
Sun, Oct 25
Deep depression
Mon, Oct 26
Cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay — to be named “Arnab”
Rain Alerts for Tamil Nadu
Date
Very heavy rain
Heavy rain
Sat, Oct 24
Kanniyakumari, Coimbatore, Nilgiris, Tirunelveli ghat areas
On Friday, a red alert was in force for Kanniyakumari and Tirunelveli. Rain is likely to continue until about October 27.
Nilgiris: Red Alert and Landslides (Update, October 24)
A red alert for extremely heavy rain is in force for the Nilgiris and the Coimbatore ghat areas.
Overnight rain: about 250 mm at Burliar and 200 mm at Lower Kotagiri. Landslides and fallen trees hit about 20 spots on the roads from Ooty to Mettupalayam, Coonoor and Kotagiri.
Police, firefighters and district officials used ropes to bring more than 150 students from Kerala to safety after a landslide on the Mettupalayam–Ooty road.
A government bus was hit by a falling tree and debris; the conductor was taken to Mettupalayam Government Hospital.
Collector Lakshmi Bhavya declared a school holiday in six taluks and advised tourists not to travel to the Nilgiris for three days; the Nilgiri Mountain Railway was cancelled for the day. Road clearing is under way.
Evening update: all tourist spots in the Nilgiris are closed until further notice; for the next three days no vehicles, including government buses, will run on the hill roads from 6 pm to 7 am (emergency vehicles exempt). NDRF and State Disaster Response Force teams have been sent to the district. Tourists already there should stay where they are; helplines 112 and 1077.
School Holidays
October 21: Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram and Ranipet, after heavy overnight rain (Vadapalani 132.9 mm).
October 22: Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Kanniyakumari, Tenkasi and Tirupattur.
October 23: Villupuram, Kallakurichi and Vellore; schools and colleges in Tiruvannamalai.
October 24: six taluks of the Nilgiris.
Collectors announce holidays each morning — check your district’s announcement before leaving home.
What the Government Is Doing
The Chief Minister reviewed readiness at the State Emergency Operations Centre on October 22 — read more ›
The Greater Chennai Corporation is repairing potholes across all 15 zones (₹21.80 crore; over 4,600 filled).
The power utility has issued safety guidance; report electrical hazards on 94987 94987 (call or WhatsApp).
Stay Safe
Avoid waterlogged roads and fallen wires, keep phones charged and follow official alerts. Emergency: 1070 (state), 1077 (district), 112. All helplines: Monsoon Help Centre ›