Cyclone ‘Arnab’ Forming? Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Bengal Brace For Heavy Rains, Storms

Last Updated:September 22, 2026, 4:23 PM IST

The weather office said that the system was likely to cross the north Andhra Pradesh-south Odisha coasts during the night of Wednesday and the early hours of Thursday.

Beach guards ask tourists to stay away from the rough sea amid the formation of a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal, in Puri. (IMAGE: PTI)

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday said that the weather system over the Bay of Bengal is advancing west-northwestwards and is likely to intensify into a deep depression before crossing the Andhra Pradesh-Odisha coast.

Earlier on Monday, the weatherman said that the depression over the west-central and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal was likely to intensify into a deep depression.

“The Depression over Westcentral & adjoining Northwest Bay of Bengal, moved westwards with speed 18 kmph during past 06 hours and lay centred at 0830 hrs IST of today, the 22nd September, 2026, over the same region near latitude 17.9°N and longitude 86.0°E, about 200 km southeast of Gopalpur (Odisha), 200 km east-southeast of Kalingapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), 210 km south of Puri (Odisha), and 290 km east of Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh),” the IMD said.

“It is very likely to move west-northwestwards & intensify into a deep depression over Westcentral & adjoining Northwest Bay of Bengal during next 12 hours,” the IMD said, adding that the system was forecast to continue moving west-northwestwards.

The weather office said that the system was likely to cross the north Andhra Pradesh-south Odisha coasts between Visakhapatnam and Gopalpur during the night of Wednesday and the early hours of Thursday as a deep depression.

When Will It Be Named Arnab?

The next cyclone to form in the region will be named Arnab, according to the list of names for cyclonic storms in the North Indian Ocean.

The name Arnab, which means “ocean” in Bengali, was contributed by Bangladesh to the regional tropical cyclone naming list maintained by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the IMD.

Quick Answers

Powered by

Ask News18

What is the expected path and timeline for the weather system over the Bay of Bengal?

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the depression over the west-central and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal is moving west-northwestwards and is very likely to intensify into a deep depression. It is forecast to cross the north Andhra Pradesh-south Odisha coasts between Visakhapatnam and Gopalpur during the night of Wednesday and the early hours of Thursday.

Where does the name Arnab come from and what does it mean?

The next cyclone to form in the region will be named Arnab according to the regional tropical cyclone naming list for the North Indian Ocean. The name Arnab, meaning “ocean” in Bengali, was contributed by Bangladesh.

Which states are expected to brace for heavy rains and storms from the approaching system?

Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Bengal are bracing for heavy rains and storms as the weather system advances. The system is expected to cross the coast between Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh and Gopalpur in Odisha.

Powered by

Ask News18

About the Author

Shankhyaneel Sarkar

Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a chief sub editor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over seven years of experience during which he has …Read More

Read More