Updated: 25 September 2026
The term Cyclone Arnab has been trending in connection with the recent Bay of Bengal weather system that affected Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. However, there is an important factual clarification for readers: the India Meteorological Department (IMD) did not classify this system as a cyclonic storm named Arnab.
The system strengthened to a deep depression before crossing the north Andhra Pradesh–south Odisha coast and subsequently weakened into a depression over south interior Odisha and adjoining Chhattisgarh. As of the IMD’s September 25 bulletin, the system was expected to weaken further into a well-marked low-pressure area.
The name “Arnab” attracted attention because it is the next name on the North Indian Ocean cyclone naming list. A weather system receives a cyclone name only after reaching the required cyclonic-storm intensity. Therefore, referring to the recent system as “Cyclone Arnab” is a popular/search term, but it should not be presented as the system’s official classification.
Cyclone Arnab: What Is the Official Status on 25 September 2026?
According to the latest IMD Meteorological Centre Bhubaneswar bulletin issued on 25 September 2026 at 1:30 PM IST, the system had weakened into a depression.
The depression was centred over south Chhattisgarh and adjoining south interior Odisha, near latitude 20.9°N and longitude 82.4°E, close to the north-northwest of Nuapada in Odisha.
The system was moving north-northwestwards at around 15 kmph during the preceding six hours. IMD expected it to maintain depression intensity for about 12 hours before weakening into a well-marked low-pressure area during the following 12 hours.
This means that the immediate weather concern is now heavy rainfall, waterlogging, flooding, landslides and strong winds, rather than the formation of a new cyclone.
Cyclone Arnab: Did Cyclone Arnab Actually Form?
No. An officially named Cyclone Arnab did not form from this system.
The IMD tracked the system through several stages, including a low-pressure area, depression and deep depression. It reached deep-depression intensity but did not become a Cyclonic Storm, the category at which an official cyclone name would be assigned.
The IMD’s September 25 Tropical Weather Outlook records the system as a Depression, with maximum sustained winds of approximately 45–55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph at 0000 UTC on September 25.
Therefore, headlines describing it as an officially formed “Cyclone Arnab” should be treated cautiously.
Cyclone Arnab: Why Is the Name Arnab Trending?
The name became widely searched because Arnab is the next available name in the North Indian Ocean regional cyclone naming list.
Reports published while the Bay of Bengal system was intensifying discussed whether it could reach cyclonic-storm strength and receive the name Arnab. However, IMD forecasts indicated that it was expected to cross the coast as a deep depression rather than intensify into a cyclone.
The name Arnab, contributed by Bangladesh, is associated with the Bengali word for “ocean.”
Cyclone Arnab: When Did the Weather System Cross the Coast?
The deep depression crossed the north Andhra Pradesh–south Odisha coastal region near Kalingapatnam during the night of September 23 and the early hours of September 24.
Before landfall, IMD forecasts indicated that the system would move west-northwestwards between Visakhapatnam and Gopalpur, crossing near Kalingapatnam.
After crossing the coast, the system moved inland and gradually weakened.
Cyclone Arnab: What Is the Current Location?
As of the IMD’s September 25 afternoon bulletin, the system was no longer over the Bay of Bengal.
It was located over south Chhattisgarh and adjoining south interior Odisha, close to the Nuapada area, and was moving north-northwestwards.
The IMD stated that the system was expected to weaken into a well-marked low-pressure area after maintaining depression intensity for a limited period.
Cyclone Arnab: How Did the System Affect Odisha?
The weather system produced significant rainfall across parts of southern, coastal and interior Odisha.
The impacts reported or warned by authorities included:
- Heavy to very heavy rainfall
- Localised extremely heavy rainfall
- Waterlogging
- Flooding in vulnerable areas
- Landslides and mudslides
- Difficult road conditions
- Railway disruptions
- Strong and squally winds
- Poor visibility
- Longer travel times
The IMD specifically identified localized landslides, mudslides and landslips among possible impacts from the heavy rainfall.
Cyclone Arnab: Odisha Districts Under Weather Alert
The IMD’s September 25 Odisha bulletin listed several districts under rainfall warnings.
The Orange Warning for heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places covered districts including:
- Nuapada
- Sambalpur
- Keonjhar
- Jharsuguda
- Bargarh
- Mayurbhanj
The bulletin also issued a Yellow Warning for a wider group of districts, including Baleshwar, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jajpur, Jagatsinghpur, Angul, Dhenkanal, Deogarh, Sonepur, Balangir, Kalahandi, Koraput, Rayagada and Malkangiri.
Warning categories can change as the weather system weakens, so readers should use the latest IMD bulletin rather than relying on an older district list.
Cyclone Arnab: Heavy Rainfall and Flooding Risk in Odisha
Although the system has weakened, rainfall remains an important concern.
The IMD warned that rainfall could produce surface runoff and inundation in fully saturated soils and low-lying areas. Waterlogging can also increase travel times and create hazardous conditions on roads.
Residents in low-lying areas should follow instructions from local authorities, particularly if flooding or water accumulation begins.
Cyclone Arnab: Landslide Risk in Southern Odisha
Southern Odisha contains hilly and mountainous terrain where intense rainfall can destabilise soil and rock slopes.
The current IMD bulletin explicitly lists localized landslides, mudslides and landslips among possible impacts associated with the rainfall.
This is particularly relevant for areas around Koraput, Rayagada, Malkangiri and adjoining hilly districts, where heavy rainfall can affect roads and railway infrastructure.
Recent rainfall-related landslides have also disrupted railway services in the Koraput–Rayagada region, including the Maligura–Chhatariput section.
Cyclone Arnab: Train Services and Railway Disruptions
The weather system has also affected railway operations in parts of southern Odisha.
Reports on September 25 said a landslide between Maligura and Chhatariput stations in the Rayagada Division affected train movement.
Several services were cancelled or operationally adjusted, while restoration teams worked to clear debris and inspect the affected railway section.
Passengers travelling through the Koraput, Rayagada and Jagdalpur sectors should check their individual train status before departure.
Cyclone Arnab: Impact on Roads and Transport
Heavy rainfall can affect road transport through:
- Waterlogging
- Landslides
- Mudslides
- Falling trees or branches
- Reduced visibility
- Damaged road shoulders
- Slow traffic
- Temporary road closures
The IMD specifically warned about increased travel times and possible disruption to road and rail traffic because of heavy rainfall and poor visibility.
Cyclone Arnab: Wind Speed and Sea Conditions
The September 25 IMD Odisha bulletin reported squally winds of approximately 40–50 kmph with gusts up to 60 kmph over parts of the westcentral and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal and along/off the Odisha–north Andhra Pradesh coast until the evening of September 25.
Over Chhattisgarh and interior Odisha, winds were reported at approximately 45–55 kmph with gusts up to 65 kmph, with a gradual decrease expected.
The sea was also reported as rough over parts of the Bay of Bengal and along the Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal coasts.
Cyclone Arnab: What Happened in Andhra Pradesh?
The system crossed the coast near Kalingapatnam in Andhra Pradesh before moving inland.
North coastal Andhra Pradesh experienced heavy rainfall and strong winds associated with the system. The weather system subsequently moved inland toward Odisha and Chhattisgarh while gradually weakening.
Cyclone Arnab: Evacuation and Disaster Preparedness in Odisha
Odisha authorities undertook precautionary measures in vulnerable areas as the system approached.
News reports said residents from vulnerable and low-lying locations were moved to safer places, while disaster-response personnel and equipment were placed on standby.
The exact number of people relocated has varied between reports and different stages of the response, so figures should be attributed to the relevant government or news report rather than presented as a single final statewide number.
Cyclone Arnab: School Closures and Local Precautionary Measures
Several districts announced school and Anganwadi closures during the period of intense rainfall and weather warnings.
These decisions were made locally based on rainfall forecasts, district-level warnings and safety considerations. Such closures should not be interpreted as evidence that the entire state was shut down.
Parents and students should rely on their district administration or education department for the latest school-opening information.
Cyclone Arnab: What Happens Next?
The latest IMD forecast indicates a continued north-northwestward movement followed by further weakening.
The September 25 IMD bulletin expected the depression to weaken into a well-marked low-pressure area after maintaining depression intensity for approximately 12 hours.
Therefore, the focus should shift from cyclone formation to the remaining rainfall and local flooding/landslide risk as the system moves inland.
Cyclone Arnab: Is Another Cyclone Expected From This System?
Based on the latest IMD classification, there is no indication that this system is developing into a new cyclonic storm.
The system had already weakened from a deep depression into a depression by September 25, and IMD expected further weakening.
Consequently, claims that an official Cyclone Arnab is currently intensifying over Odisha should not be treated as confirmed meteorological information.
Cyclone Arnab: Important Safety Advisory for Odisha
People in areas receiving heavy rainfall should take basic precautions:
- Avoid unnecessary travel during intense rainfall.
- Do not attempt to cross flooded roads or streams.
- Stay away from unstable slopes and recent landslide locations.
- Keep children away from flooded areas and swollen drains.
- Follow evacuation instructions from district authorities.
- Check railway and road conditions before travelling.
- Fishermen should follow official marine weather advisories.
- Avoid relying on unverified cyclone-track graphics circulated on social media.
For emergency situations, residents should follow instructions from the Odisha government, district administration and disaster-management authorities.
Cyclone Arnab: What Does IMD Say About the System?
The most important fact for this article is the official IMD classification.
On September 25, IMD described the system as a Depression over south Chhattisgarh and adjoining south interior Odisha, moving north-northwestwards and expected to weaken further.
The IMD’s Tropical Weather Outlook likewise classified it as a Depression, not a Cyclonic Storm.
Therefore, this article uses “Cyclone Arnab” as the search/trending keyword, while clearly explaining the official meteorological status.
Cyclone Arnab: Frequently Asked Questions
Cyclone Arnab: Is Cyclone Arnab officially formed?
No. The recent system did not reach the official cyclonic-storm classification required for the name Arnab to be assigned. IMD classified it as a deep depression before landfall and subsequently as a depression.
Cyclone Arnab: Where did the system make landfall?
The deep depression crossed the north Andhra Pradesh–south Odisha coastal region near Kalingapatnam, during the night of September 23 and early hours of September 24.
Cyclone Arnab: Where is the system now?
As of September 25, the system was over south Chhattisgarh and adjoining south interior Odisha, near the Nuapada region, and moving north-northwestwards.
Cyclone Arnab: Is Odisha still receiving heavy rain?
Yes. Parts of Odisha continued to face heavy rainfall on September 25, and IMD issued district-level warnings.
Cyclone Arnab: Will the system become a cyclone again?
The latest IMD forecast does not indicate such development. The system was weakening and was expected to become a well-marked low-pressure area.
Cyclone Arnab: Why is the name Arnab being used online?
Arnab is the next name on the regional North Indian Ocean cyclone naming list. It became widely discussed because the Bay of Bengal system was initially being monitored for possible intensification.
Cyclone Arnab: Which areas should remain cautious?
People in areas experiencing heavy rainfall, flooding, landslides or strong winds should remain cautious and follow the latest district-level advisories.
Cyclone Arnab: Latest News Summary
The latest verified information shows that the weather system popularly discussed online as Cyclone Arnab did not officially become a named cyclone.
It developed into a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal, crossed the north Andhra Pradesh–south Odisha coast near Kalingapatnam, moved inland and weakened into a depression.
As of September 25, 2026, IMD placed the depression over south Chhattisgarh and adjoining south interior Odisha and expected it to weaken further into a well-marked low-pressure area. Heavy rainfall, waterlogging, localized landslides and transport disruptions remained the principal concerns.
For readers searching for Cyclone Arnab latest news, the key distinction is therefore simple: “Cyclone Arnab” is a widely used search term, but the official IMD classification of the recent system is a depression, not a named cyclone.