After landfall near Yanam, Cyclone Arnab weakens but its rain moves inland. Six Odisha districts are on red alert, and Telangana, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal face heavy rain next.
Updated: October 28, 2026, 10:45 AM IST
Quick Read:
- Arnab is expected to weaken to a depression by the evening of October 28, but rain stays heavy well inland.
- Six Odisha districts are on red alert for extremely heavy rain: Gajapati, Ganjam, Rayagada, Koraput, Nabarangpur and Malkangiri.
- Schools are shut in 10 Andhra Pradesh districts and six southern Odisha districts on October 28-29.
The storm weakens, the rain does not stop
Landfall is not the end of a cyclone. It is the point where the storm loses its fuel. Warm sea water feeds a cyclone. Once the centre moves over land, that fuel is gone, and winds drop. Rain is a different story. A weakening storm can still dump huge amounts of rain far inland. That is the IMD’s message for October 28. Arnab was expected to weaken to a depression by the evening. But the rain bands keep moving north and northwest, over Odisha, Telangana, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal. People inland should not think the danger ended at landfall.
Also read: Cyclone Arnab landfall near Yanam
Odisha: the six districts on red alert
This is the district list that matters today, and it corrects an earlier gap in this site’s coverage. The IMD’s red alert for extremely heavy rain on October 28 covers six Odisha districts: Gajapati, Ganjam, Rayagada, Koraput, Nabarangpur and Malkangiri. Nabarangpur is named here on purpose. Earlier posts on this site listed “Ganjam, Gajapati and nearby districts” and left Nabarangpur out. The full six-district list, confirmed by Odisha Bytes, Argus and the Financial Express live blog, is the correct one. Odisha winds in the worst districts are expected at 60-80 kmph, gusting to 90 kmph. That is far below the coastal landfall winds, but still strong enough to break branches and cut power. Southern Odisha also faces heavy rain through October 28 and into October 29. Schools are shut in six southern Odisha districts on October 28-29. Fishing is banned along the coast. Rescue teams are on standby.
Andhra Pradesh: what stays shut today
In Andhra Pradesh, schools are closed in 10 districts: East Godavari, Kakinada, Dr B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema, Krishna, NTR, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, Eluru, Anakapalli and Polavaram. Coastal districts face the clean-up first: fallen trees, snapped power lines, waterlogged roads. Visakhapatnam’s Beach Road and Seethammadhara were blocked by fallen trees. Kakinada district reported snapped power lines in several areas. Flights remain disrupted. Vijayawada airport cancelled all flights on Wednesday. Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada together saw at least 21 cancellations. Passengers should check with their airline before leaving for the airport, rather than trusting yesterday’s schedule.
Also read: Cyclone Arnab: district rain list, helplines, safety
What comes next: Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Bengal
As Arnab moves north-northwest, its rain spreads. Telangana, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal are next in line for heavy rain after the coastal impact. West Bengal already felt strong winds and heavy rain in parts on October 27, and more rain is expected as the system moves inland. Farmers in low-lying fields should watch local advisories. Water collects fast on roads in towns. Do not drive through flooded stretches — the depth is hard to judge from inside a car, and a stalled car in rising water turns dangerous fast.
What you should do today
First, follow only official updates: the IMD, the state disaster management authority, and the district collector’s office. Social media posts can mix old videos with new claims. Check the date on a video before you share it. Second, if you live in one of the six Odisha districts on red alert, or in a low-lying coastal pocket of Andhra Pradesh, stay ready to move if officials ask. Do not wait for water to reach your door. Keep a small bag packed: papers, medicines, phone charger, and some cash. Third, stay away from the sea, beaches and river banks till officials say it is safe. High waves can hit the shore even after the storm’s centre has moved inland. And do not touch a fallen power line — report it to the local power office instead. One honest gap: this post does not print helpline numbers, because no official helpline number appeared in the sources checked for this post. Do not trust a number forwarded on WhatsApp. Use the district collector’s office or the state disaster management authority’s official page for the current number.
Also read: Why this storm is called Arnab
FAQ
Q: Is the danger over now that Arnab has made landfall?
A: No. Winds weaken after landfall, but heavy rain moves inland. Odisha, Telangana, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal face heavy rain after the coastal impact.
Q: Which Odisha districts are on red alert?
A: Six districts: Gajapati, Ganjam, Rayagada, Koraput, Nabarangpur and Malkangiri. Nabarangpur is part of the official list — earlier posts on this site that said only “nearby districts” were incomplete.
Q: When will the storm weaken fully?
A: The IMD expected Arnab to weaken to a depression by the evening of October 28. Rain can still stay heavy after that, so the weakening does not mean the rain stops at once.
Sources: IMD bulletins, October 28, 2026 (via The Hindu live, Financial Express live); Odisha Bytes / Argus (six-district red-alert list); The Hindu (school closures, flight cancellations).
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