Cyclone Murasu crossed the south Andhra Pradesh coast near Ongole on 3 November 2026. Before landfall, many people in Tamil Nadu were watching its movement across the Bay of Bengal and asking: why was the cyclone heading towards Andhra Pradesh instead of Tamil Nadu?
The short answer: A cyclone is steered by the larger-scale winds around it. In Murasu’s case, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) discussed an upper-level ridge and a trough as important features influencing the forecast movement. The storm did not simply head towards the nearest coastline.
Where did Cyclone Murasu make landfall?
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Severe Cyclonic Storm Murasu crossed the south Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Narsapur, close to Ongole in Prakasam district, on 3 November 2026. The reported landfall position was near 15.53°N and 80.22°E.
At landfall, Murasu had maximum sustained winds of around 100–110 km/h, with gusts reaching 120 km/h. IMD classified it as a severe cyclonic storm. These figures describe the reported conditions at landfall, not the earlier forecast values.
What happened to Murasu after landfall?
After crossing the coast, Murasu moved inland and gradually weakened. Moving over land cuts a cyclone off from the warm ocean water that supplies much of its energy. Greater friction over land can also disrupt its circulation. Changes in the surrounding atmospheric conditions and the storm’s internal structure influence how quickly it weakens. Rain and thunderstorms can continue even after a cyclone loses strength.
IMD’s updates on 4 November described Murasu’s remnant as a well-marked low-pressure area over east Telangana and adjoining Coastal Andhra Pradesh. The severe cyclone had weakened substantially, but its remaining weather system could still produce rain.
First, understand how a cyclone moves
A cyclone has strong winds rotating around its centre. But the spinning motion and the movement of the entire storm are two different things. A cyclone can rotate while travelling across the sea at the same time.
Think of a leaf spinning in a flowing river. The leaf rotates on its own, but the river current carries it downstream. A cyclone is similar: it spins around its centre, while the larger-scale flow of air around it helps carry the whole system. Meteorologists call this broad atmospheric flow the steering flow.
What is an upper-level ridge?
An upper-level ridge is an elongated area of relatively high geopotential heights in the upper atmosphere. It is not a solid wall and does not physically push a cyclone. Instead, its position is associated with a broader pattern of winds around it. Those winds can help guide the movement of a cyclone.
Imagine watching leaves move along a river. The shape and flow of the river influence the direction in which the leaves travel. The comparison is not exact, but it helps explain the basic idea: the ridge helps shape the surrounding wind pattern, and those winds help steer the cyclone.
Remember: the ridge helps shape the wind pattern; the steering winds move the cyclone.
How did the ridge influence Murasu’s route?
In its technical discussion before landfall, IMD described an upper-level ridge near 17°N, associated with an anticyclone over Myanmar. The storm’s position relative to this ridge was part of the larger atmospheric setup that influenced its steering winds.
IMD’s discussion explained that Murasu was expected to move towards the coast and, after landfall, to move northwards and then north-northeastwards as it lay close to the ridge. This is an explanation from the forecast discussion issued before the event; it should not be read as a complete post-event scientific reconstruction of every factor behind the observed track.
This does not mean the ridge acted like a barrier between Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Its position helped shape the atmospheric circulation around the storm. The resulting steering winds, together with other weather features, influenced the cyclone’s path.
What was the role of the upper-level trough?
An upper-level trough is an elongated area of relatively low geopotential heights in the upper atmosphere. It is associated with changes in the surrounding wind pattern and can influence the direction in which a weather system moves. Its effect depends on its position, strength and movement.
IMD’s pre-landfall discussion mentioned an upper-level trough to the west, which was expected to move eastwards. The discussion said this feature would influence the later steering pattern. In particular, it was expected to help prevent the system from moving westwards and favour a turn towards the north-northeast.
The ridge and trough were not physical objects pushing the cyclone from opposite sides. They were parts of a changing atmospheric circulation. Their positions influenced the wind pattern that helped steer the storm.
Why was Tamil Nadu affected even though Murasu crossed Andhra Pradesh?
A cyclone’s landfall location and the areas affected by its weather are not the same thing. Rain bands, strong winds and rough seas can extend far from the centre of a cyclone. Nearby coastal areas can therefore experience bad weather even when the storm crosses the coast in another state.
Before landfall, IMD issued warnings of rain, squally winds and rough sea conditions for parts of Tamil Nadu. These were forecasts and warnings issued ahead of the event. They should not be confused with measured rainfall totals or a complete assessment of damage after the cyclone.
What does Cyclone Murasu teach us about forecasting?
A cyclone forecast is based on observations and weather-model guidance available at that time. Meteorologists study satellite images, radar observations, ocean conditions and atmospheric winds to estimate a storm’s future movement. As new information becomes available, the forecast can be updated.
Murasu’s case shows why the direction of a cyclone cannot be understood by looking only at the nearest coastline. The larger atmospheric circulation matters. IMD’s discussion of the ridge and trough helps explain the forecast steering pattern that favoured a track towards Andhra Pradesh and then a north-northeastward movement.
Frequently asked questions
Why do cyclones change direction?
Cyclones are carried by larger-scale winds in the atmosphere. Changes in those winds, influenced by features such as ridges and troughs, can cause a cyclone to turn or change its direction.
What is an upper-level ridge?
An upper-level ridge is an elongated region of relatively high geopotential heights in the upper atmosphere. It influences the surrounding wind pattern, which can help steer a cyclone.
Can a cyclone affect Tamil Nadu without making landfall there?
Yes. Rain bands, strong winds and rough seas can extend beyond a cyclone’s centre. A storm making landfall in a neighbouring state can still bring adverse weather to parts of Tamil Nadu.
The simple explanation
Cyclone Murasu crossed the south Andhra Pradesh coast near Ongole on 3 November 2026. Its path was influenced by the larger-scale winds around it. The upper-level ridge helped shape the atmospheric circulation, while the trough was expected to influence the later steering and favour a north-northeastward turn. The cyclone’s own rotation did not determine its destination; the surrounding atmosphere played a major role.
Official sources and further reading
The landfall and weakening details below are based on IMD bulletins and official updates. The explanation of the ridge and trough is based on IMD’s technical discussion issued before landfall. The forecast discussion is also reported in the following coverage.
- India Meteorological Department – Cyclone bulletin archive (dated bulletins and storm updates)
- India Meteorological Department – Press releases (including the 3 and 4 November 2026 Murasu updates)
- Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority – Cyclone information (bulletin timeline and event updates)
- The Indian Express – Cyclone Murasu coverage (reports IMD’s discussion of the ridge and upper-level trough)