Severe Cyclonic Storm Murasu began crossing the Andhra Pradesh coast at 1 AM on Tuesday, 3 November 2026, near Ongole — and for fishers on both the Andhra and Odisha coasts, the message from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) this morning is blunt: stay off the sea. Fishermen advisories run until 4 November for most of the affected waters, with the south Odisha coast covered until the afternoon of 4 November.
This is the second cyclonic storm to hit India’s east coast within a week, after Cyclone Arnab crossed the Andhra coast on 28 October 2026. Coming so soon after Arnab, Murasu is striking a coastline where soils are already saturated, boats have barely been repaired, and — in Odisha — restoration work from the previous storm was still under way when the new warnings went out.
Here is what is confirmed as of the morning of 3 November, what the IMD is telling fishers hour by hour, and what fishing families should do next — including how to protect any insurance claim if boats or gear are damaged.
Murasu landfall: what happened overnight
According to the IMD, the landfall process of Severe Cyclonic Storm Murasu commenced at 1 AM on 3 November 2026 near Ongole in Prakasam district, with the observed maximum sustained wind speed of 110 kmph to 120 kmph at the landfall point. The Indian Express, reporting the same landfall, places it near Kothapatnam, close to Ongole, at 1 AM. The IMD had forecast the storm to cross the south Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Narsapur, close to Ongole, between 11:30 PM on 2 November and 4 AM on 3 November, as a severe cyclonic storm with winds of 100–110 kmph gusting to 120 kmph.
| When (IST) | What the IMD reported |
|---|---|
| 2 Nov, 8:30 AM | Murasu centred over the west-central Bay of Bengal, about 160 km east-southeast of Nellore, moving west-northwest at 22 kmph. |
| 2 Nov, afternoon | Forecast: cross the south Andhra coast between Nellore and Narsapur, close to Ongole, between 11:30 PM on 2 Nov and 4 AM on 3 Nov. |
| 2 Nov, 11:30 PM | Storm about 50 km southeast of Ongole and 50 km east-northeast of Kavali, moving at just 8 kmph; outer rain bands already over south coastal Andhra Pradesh. |
| 3 Nov, 1:00 AM | Landfall process begins near Ongole; inner spiral band enters south coastal Andhra Pradesh; sustained winds 110–120 kmph at the landfall point. |
| 3 Nov, 2:10 AM | IMD: wall cloud region very close to the coast; storm surge of 1–1.5 metres above astronomical tide likely over low-lying areas of south coastal Andhra Pradesh. |
| 3 Nov, 3:30 AM | Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu holds a teleconference with district Collectors of the cyclone-hit districts. |
| 3 Nov, 5:30 AM | IMD: landfall process expected to be completed within about two hours; storm then centred about 20 km from Ongole, moving at 9 kmph. |
| 3 Nov, 6:00 AM | IMD fishermen warning updated: sea still very high to very rough; do-not-venture advisories extended to 4 November (see table below). |
Timing note: this post is a morning snapshot based on IMD bulletins and live reporting up to about 7 AM on 3 November. The landfall process was still under way at 5:30 AM and was expected to complete within about two hours. For the very latest position, check the IMD’s current bulletin before travelling anywhere near the coast.
Fishers told to stay off the sea until 4 November
The IMD’s fishermen warning issued at 6:00 AM on 3 November 2026 is the document that matters most for fishing families today. It advises fishers not to venture into the following waters:
| Sea area | Do not venture until | Sea condition |
|---|---|---|
| Southwest Bay of Bengal | Morning of 4 November | High, improving to very rough to rough by the evening of 3 November |
| West-central Bay of Bengal | Afternoon of 4 November | Very high till the morning of 3 November, then very rough to rough till the morning of 4 November |
| North Tamil Nadu – Puducherry coasts | Morning of 4 November | High to very high till the morning of 3 November, then improving |
| Northwest Bay of Bengal and south Odisha coast | Afternoon of 4 November | Rough to very rough till the morning of 3 November, rough till the evening of 3 November |
Along the south Odisha coast, squally weather with winds of 50–60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph was prevailing on the morning of 3 November and was expected to continue till noon on 3 November before decreasing gradually. The Odisha Directorate of Fisheries had separately advised fishers not to venture into the sea along the Odisha coast from 2 to 4 November, and district offices have been running 24-hour control rooms.
The practical meaning is simple: even if the sky looks calmer where you are, the sea state lags behind. The IMD advisories run into 4 November for a reason — rough to very rough seas persist after the storm centre has crossed the coast.
Andhra Pradesh: heavy rain, storm surge, evacuations
Murasu’s heaviest impact is on south coastal Andhra Pradesh. The IMD warned of heavy spells of rainfall across the region during the 12 hours after landfall, and at 5:30 AM on 3 November the districts forecast to receive heavy rainfall included West Godavari, Eluru, Krishna, NTR, Guntur, Bapatla, Palnadu, Markapuram, Prakasam and Nellore.
The storm surge is a particular danger for low-lying fishing villages: the IMD said a surge of 1–1.5 metres above the astronomical tide was likely to inundate low-lying areas of south coastal Andhra Pradesh, with the maximum peak surge expected over Bapatla and over Krishna and Prakasam districts. Great Danger Signal Number X was hoisted at Nizampatnam and Vadarevu ports, Signal IX at Machilipatnam, and Signal VIII at Krishnapatnam, with local cautionary signals at Kalingapatnam, Visakhapatnam, Bheemunipatnam, Gangavaram and Kakinada.
Early damage reports underline why the warnings matter: several thatched houses collapsed and residents were stranded at Samatha Nagar in Ongole, Prakasam district, after heavy rain and strong winds, and hundreds of trees were uprooted across Nellore, Prakasam and Bapatla districts. Authorities had planned to move around 30,000 people to safety in Andhra Pradesh, and the Chief Minister’s 3:30 AM review with Collectors shows the state machinery is on a war footing.
Odisha: five districts on high alert, second storm in a week
Odisha, which is still recovering from Cyclone Arnab, put Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri districts on high alert for isolated heavy rainfall on 3 and 4 November, with thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds of 40–50 kmph reaching 60 kmph at isolated places. Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said more than 300 NDRF, ODRAF and Fire Service teams had been pre-positioned and people in vulnerable areas were being evacuated.
IMD Bhubaneswar Director Manorama Mohanty added a warning that matters beyond the coast: continued heavy rain on already saturated soil could trigger further landslides, and people in vulnerable and landslide-prone areas should move to safer, elevated ground away from low-lying zones. In Ganjam district, officials were directed to stock essential supplies and shift residents of high-risk areas to shelters by the night of 1 November.
For Odisha’s marine fishers, the timeline is the same as Andhra’s: the Directorate of Fisheries’ no-venturing advisory covers 2 to 4 November, and district control rooms are reporting round the clock from Cuttack’s coordination.
What fishing families should do now: a checklist
- Do not launch until your area’s advisory lifts — 4 November morning or afternoon depending on the sea area (table above). A calm morning does not mean a safe sea.
- Secure boats, nets and gear above the surge line where possible, and photograph everything before and after the storm — dated photos are your best evidence for any claim.
- Stay away from low-lying coastal stretches in Bapatla, Krishna and Prakasam districts while the surge warning holds, and from landslide-prone slopes in south Odisha.
- Keep the district fisheries office and control-room numbers handy and report damage promptly — do not wait for an official to visit first.
- Do not pay anyone promising to “register” your cyclone loss for a fee. Insurance and relief claims go through official channels only (see below).
- Check the next IMD bulletin before making any decision to return to sea — this post reflects the morning of 3 November, and conditions change by the hour.
If boats or gear are damaged: protect your insurance claim
Damage is only half the loss; a missed deadline can turn it into a total loss. Andhra Pradesh joined the Group Accidental Insurance Scheme (GAIS) for fishers for the first time in 2026-27, covering 2,84,888 fishers according to the Rajya Sabha answer of 29 July 2026 — read our report on Andhra joining fisher insurance for the full details.
Under GAIS, the timelines that matter are strict: intimation within 120 days and a complete claim proposal within 180 days. Our explainer on the 120-day claim rule walks through exactly what to file and when. For aquaculture farmers, the PM-MKSSY aqua insurance incentive — a 40% premium incentive — is explained in our PM-MKSSY aqua insurance guide, and a parametric cyclone cover that pays on wind-speed triggers rather than a damage survey is covered in our report on cyclone cover that pays without a damage survey.
Three practical points for this storm: first, report damage to your district fisheries officer and your insurer as early as you can — do not wait for the 120-day limit. Second, keep every document: photos of the damage, boat registration, insurance papers and any relief-visit record. Third, note that GAIS covers accidental death and disability, not vessel damage itself — boat cover is a separate policy, so check which policy you actually hold before assuming a claim.
Why Murasu matters beyond this week
Two severe storms in six days on the same coastline is not normal background weather for fishing communities — it is a test of every part of the system: early warning, evacuation, boat safety, cold-chain and market recovery, and insurance. The fishers’ demands heard at the recent South Andaman consultation — pay for every ban day, recognition of nearshore rights, safe markets for women vendors — reported in our story on Andaman fishers’ demand for ban-day pay, gain urgency every time a storm keeps boats ashore for three days with no income.
For now, though, the priority is narrow and urgent: stay off the sea until the IMD says otherwise, stay on high ground where surge and landslide warnings apply, and document everything. The sea will still be there on 5 November. Make sure you are too.
Frequently asked questions
When did Cyclone Murasu make landfall?
The landfall process commenced at 1 AM on 3 November 2026 near Ongole, Andhra Pradesh, as a severe cyclonic storm. At 5:30 AM the process was still under way and was expected to complete within about two hours.
Until when should fishers not venture into the sea?
Per the IMD fishermen warning of 6:00 AM, 3 November 2026: until the morning of 4 November for the southwest Bay of Bengal and north Tamil Nadu–Puducherry coasts, and until the afternoon of 4 November for the west-central Bay of Bengal and the south Odisha coast. Odisha’s own advisory covers 2–4 November.
Which districts are worst affected?
In Andhra Pradesh: Prakasam, Bapatla, Krishna, Nellore, Guntur, NTR, Eluru, West Godavari, Palnadu and Markapuram for heavy rain, with the highest storm surge expected over Bapatla, Krishna and Prakasam. In Odisha: Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri for heavy rain.
What wind speeds did Murasu bring?
The IMD reported sustained winds of 100–110 kmph gusting to 120 kmph at landfall, with 110–120 kmph observed at the landfall point. South Odisha coastal winds were 50–60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph.
Where can I check the latest update?
The IMD website (mausam.imd.gov.in) and its fishermen warnings, your district fisheries office, and the 24-hour district control rooms in Odisha. Do not rely on forwarded social-media messages for sea-safety decisions.
Sources
- IMD, Warning for Fishermen, 3 November 2026, 0600 HRS IST (mausam.imd.gov.in) — sea areas, wind speeds, do-not-venture periods, port signals.
- The Hindu, Cyclone Murasu live updates, 3 November 2026, updated 07:07 AM IST — landfall 1 AM near Ongole, 110–120 kmph, 5:30 AM status, heavy-rain districts, CM teleconference, Samatha Nagar damage.
- Indian Express, 3 November 2026, 06:23 AM IST — landfall near Kothapatnam close to Ongole at 1 AM, trees uprooted in Nellore, Prakasam and Bapatla, 3:30 AM review.
- The Statesman, 2 November 2026 — south Odisha alert, 50–60 kmph gusting 70 kmph, rough to very rough sea, fishermen advisory to Wednesday afternoon.
- Outlook India, 2 November 2026 — 300+ disaster-response teams in Odisha, five southern districts on high alert, fishermen warning 2–4 November.
- Ommcom News, 1 November 2026 — Odisha Directorate of Fisheries advisory, no venturing 2–4 November, 24-hour district control rooms.
- Kathmandu Post, 3 November 2026 — second storm in a week, around 30,000 planned evacuations in Andhra Pradesh.