Cyclone Arnab Pounds India's Southeast Coast, Causing Extensive Damage and Displacement

Cyclone Arnab swept through India's southeastern coast, making landfall as a 'very severe cyclonic storm' with sustained winds reaching 130 km/h, according to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) ⁴¹. The storm brought devastation to the region, particularly in Andhra Pradesh, where it caused extensive damage to homes and farmland ²¹.

In preparation for the cyclone, Indian authorities successfully evacuated tens of thousands of people from coastal areas, ensuring a safer outcome for many residents ¹²⁴. However, despite these efforts, the cyclone claimed at least three lives and displaced numerous others ²³.

The impact of Cyclone Arnab extended beyond immediate human casualties, affecting vast swathes of cropland. Approximately 200,000 acres of cropland were inundated, highlighting the vulnerability of agricultural regions to extreme weather events ³. This not only poses a significant challenge to local farmers but also underscores the broader implications for food security in the region.

Cyclone Arnab's formation and intensity can be partly attributed to the current El Niño conditions, characterized by warmer-than-normal water temperatures in parts of the equatorial Pacific ¹. Typically, El Niño is associated with fewer and less intense tropical cyclones in the Bay of Bengal, making Cyclone Arnab's occurrence noteworthy ¹.

The storm's path also intersected with areas of strategic economic importance. For instance, Visakhapatnam, one of the cities in the cyclone's path, is set to receive substantial investments in data centers from tech giants such as Google, Adani, and Airtel, totaling $15 billion ³. This highlights the growing recognition of the need for robust infrastructure to withstand extreme weather conditions, especially in light of projected risks to over 10% of India's 228 data centers by 2050 under a high-emissions scenario ³.

As India continues to grapple with the effects of Cyclone Arnab, the event serves as a stark reminder of the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather phenomena, driven in part by climate change. With the country experiencing its weakest southwest monsoon since 2015, and facing significant economic losses from climate impacts over the past few decades, the resilience of coastal and agricultural communities remains a critical concern ³.

What we know

• - Indian authorities evacuated tens of thousands of people from coastal areas before the storm ¹²⁴
• - Homes and farmland were damaged by the cyclone ²¹
• - At landfall, Arnab's sustained winds were 130 km/h, categorized as a 'very severe cyclonic storm' by IMD ¹⁴
• - Cyclone Arnab hit Andhra Pradesh as a 'very severe cyclonic storm' ⁴¹
• - At least three people died due to the cyclone ²³
• - Cyclone Arnab emerged in the Bay of Bengal on October 25 ¹
• - VIIRS on NOAA-20 captured a nighttime image of Arnab on October 26 at 20:12 UTC ¹
• - On October 26, Arnab had sustained winds of about 140 km/h according to the IMD ¹
• - Arnab made landfall on the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coast early on October 28 ¹
• - Landfall occurred between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, an area with large cities, farmland, and fishing communities ¹
• - Arnab caused extensive damage, including uprooted trees, flooded crops and homes, disrupted fishing, transportation, and power networks ¹
• - Arnab occurred during an El Niño period ¹
• - El Niño is associated with warmer-than-normal water temperatures in parts of the equatorial Pacific ¹
• - During El Niño, the Bay of Bengal experiences fewer and less intense tropical cyclones ¹
• - A cyclone affected the eastern part of India ²
• - The cyclone hit the Andhra Pradesh state ²
• - Approximately 200,000 acres of cropland were inundated by Cyclone Arnab ³
• - High temperatures in the Bay of Bengal contributed to the strength of Cyclone Arnab ³
• - Data centers located along the coast of eastern India are at risk due to extreme weather ³
• - India experienced its weakest southwest monsoon since 2015 ³
• - In 2025, India faced extreme weather on 360 days, resulting in 4,421 deaths and affecting 17.41 million hectares of cropland ³
• - India suffered $170 billion in losses from 1995 to 2024 due to climate impacts ³
• - Visakhapatnam, in the path of heavy rains from Cyclone Arnab, is planned for $15 billion investment in data centers by Google, Adani, and Airtel ³
• - Over 10% of 228 Indian data centers face high risks of damage from climate change by 2050 under a high-emissions scenario ³
• - Cyclone Arnab made landfall on India's southeastern coast ⁴
• - Nearly 100,000 people evacuated their homes due to Cyclone Arnab ⁴
• - Winds reached speeds of 125-135 km/h with gusts up to 150 km/h during Cyclone Arnab ⁴
• - Evacuations took place in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha states ⁴
• - About 50,000 people moved to safe areas in Andhra Pradesh ⁴
• - Around 48,000 people were told to move to safe areas in Odisha ⁴