Cyclone Arnab: Over 10,500 affected, one dead as severe weather hits 12 districts

Daily Mirror and Sri Lanka Mirror report that very severe Cyclone Arnab made landfall along the coast of Andhra Pradesh, India, and that its effect on Sri Lanka’s weather gradually weakened. Newsfirst (සිංහල) says the Meteorology Department expected the impact on the island to ease from October 28.

Lankadeepa and WhatNews (සිංහල) report that at 2:30 a.m. on October 27 the storm was around 890 kilometres northeast of Kankesanthurai, near 15.9° north and 85.4° east, and had strengthened to a very severe cyclonic storm. The reports place it over the west-central Bay of Bengal.

Rupavahini News reports that the Meteorology Department issued a red alert at 9:30 a.m. on October 26, valid for 12 hours, warning of strong winds, rough seas and thunderstorms in parts of the Bay of Bengal. It reported possible winds of 80–100 kilometres per hour and waves of three to four metres, and advised fishing and naval activity to stop in specified sea areas until further notice; crews already at sea were advised to head to safer areas and follow further forecasts.

Ada Derana, Hiru News and Hiru News (தமிழ்) report that the storm weakened and maritime warnings were withdrawn. Hiru News specifies that Arnab weakened into a deep depression and that warnings for deep Bay of Bengal waters were lifted. Daily Mirror and Newswire also report that the system’s influence on Sri Lankan weather had weakened; Newsfirst (සිංහල) reports that the department expected the impact to decline.