Tropical Cyclone Murasu brought wind and rain to Andhra Pradesh on Monday. At 4:00 p.m. EST on Monday the center of Tropical Cyclone Murasu was located at latitude 15.3°N and longitude 80.4°E which put the center about 30 miles (50 km) southeast of Ongolu, India. Murasu was moving toward the north-northwest at 6 m.p.h. (10 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 100 m.p.h. (160 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 120 m.p.h. (195 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 976 mb.
Tropical Cyclone Murasu became the second tropical cyclone to hit Andhra Pradesh in less than a week. Tropical Cyclone Arnab made landfall on the coast of Andhra Pradesh last Tuesday a little to the northeast of where Murasu made landfall.
Tropical Cyclone Murasu rapidly intensified to the equivalent of a Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale on Monday as it approached the coast of Andhra Pradesh. A small circular eye formed at the center of Murasu’s circulation. The eye was surrounded by a ring of thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of Tropical Cyclone Murasu.
The circulation around Tropical Cyclone Murasu was very small. Winds to hurricane/typhoon force extended out 20 miles (30 km) from the center of Murasu’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force only extended out 45 miles (75 km) from the center of Tropical Cyclone Murasu.
The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Tropical Cyclone Murasu is 16.5. The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) is 6.5 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) is 23.0. Tropical Cyclone Murasu is similar in intensity to Hurricane Idalia when Idalia hit Florida in 2023. Tropical Cyclone Murasu is not as big as Idalia was.
Tropical Cyclone Murasu will move around the western side of a high pressure system that is over the northern Bay of Bengal. The high pressure system will steer Murasu toward the north-northwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Tropical Cyclone Murasu will move inland over Ongolu, India. Murasu will move northwest of Ongolu when it moves farther inland.
Tropical Cyclone Murasu will bring strong winds and locally heavy rain to parts of Andhra Pradesh. Murasu will be capable of causing serious damage as it moves inland. Heavy rain will cause flash floods in some locations. Tropical Cyclone Murasu could also cause a storm surge of up to 10 feet (3 meters) along parts of the coast of Andhra Pradesh.