KOLKATA | From the Breaking News Desk. MOJO PULSE is tracking a deep depression over the east-central and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal that India’s meteorological authorities forecast could intensify into a cyclonic storm, potentially receiving the name Arnab. As of IMD’s special tropical weather outlook issued at 3:00 PM IST on 25 October 2026, it is a deep depression — not yet an officially named cyclone. The system is projected to move towards the Andhra Pradesh coast, while rain and thunderstorms are possible in parts of West Bengal over the coming days.
Live coverage: This rolling report provides confirmed cyclone advisories, West Bengal and Kolkata impacts, tracker links, safety guidance and a time-stamped chronology. New significant official developments will be added above older updates. Forecasts can change rapidly.
25 October 2026, 9:40 PM IST verification — Odisha confirms school closures and evacuation preparedness as Bay system remains a deep depression
Verified government preparedness measures, not cyclone landfall: Odisha’s Chief Minister’s Office has confirmed that schools, colleges and Anganwadi centres in Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri will remain closed on 28–29 October in anticipation of the approaching Bay of Bengal system. The state government’s 24 October preparedness announcement also states that 302 rescue teams have been kept ready, with instructions to relocate residents of low-lying areas to safer shelters and arrange healthcare support for pregnant women and patients. This is an official precautionary directive; it does not establish that all planned evacuations have already taken place. Odisha Chief Minister’s Office: preparedness review dated 24 October.
Forecast risk along the likely landfall coast: IMD’s 3:00 PM IST special tropical weather outlook on 25 October projects a possible 1.0–1.5-metre storm surge above the astronomical tide in low-lying areas near Kakinada and Yanam, Andhra Pradesh, at landfall. This is a forecast warning, not an observed surge or a warning for Kolkata. IMD continues to project a potential crossing of the Andhra Pradesh–Yanam coast between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam around 28 October, subject to track and intensity revisions. IMD special tropical weather outlook, issued 25 October at 3:00 PM IST.
Current observed status: The latest official observation verified for this update remains the 11:30 AM IST, 25 October deep depression at 15.1°N, 91.0°E, with maximum sustained winds of 50–60 km/h, gusting to 70 km/h. Positions and intensities for 5:30 PM and 11:30 PM appearing in the earlier IMD forecast table are predictions, not verified observations. The cyclone name Arnab has not been officially assigned in the checked bulletin. West Bengal’s already-reported 27–29 October fishing advice, port cautionary signals and district rainfall warnings remain the relevant local precautions; no new Kolkata evacuation order is established by Odisha’s measures.
25 October 2026, 4:00 PM IST bulletin — West Bengal fishermen advised to stay ashore from 27–29 October; district rain alerts detailed
New official coastal safety guidance: IMD Kolkata’s Special Bulletin No. 05, issued at 4:00 PM IST on 25 October, advises fishermen not to venture into the sea along or off the West Bengal coast from 27 to 29 October. It separately advises against entering the deep sea over the central and adjoining northern Bay of Bengal from 26 October and tells those already in deep waters to return to the coast by 26 October. This is an official forecast-based precaution; it does not mean a cyclone has already reached West Bengal.
Coastal wind and port signals: IMD forecasts winds of 35–45 km/h, occasionally gusting to 55 km/h, along and off the West Bengal coast from 27 to 29 October, with seas occasionally rough to very rough. The special bulletin says Distant Cautionary Signal No. 1 is hoisted at Kolkata and Haldia ports, with Sectional Signal No. III at Sagar Island Port. Port signals and marine advisories should not be confused with an order to evacuate Kolkata.
District-specific rainfall forecast: For 28 October, 8:30 AM to 29 October, 8:30 AM IST, IMD forecasts isolated heavy rainfall of 7–11 cm in South 24 Parganas, East Midnapore, West Midnapore and Jhargram. For the following 24 hours, the heavy-rain risk extends to East Midnapore, West Midnapore, Jhargram, Bankura and Purulia. Thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds of 40–50 km/h are forecast at isolated locations in South 24 Parganas and the two Midnapore districts during this period.
Kolkata forecast: The city is forecast to see light to moderate rain or thundershowers during the 28–29 October period, with isolated lightning and gusts around 30–40 km/h; the 4:00 PM IMD bulletin does not place Kolkata itself in the isolated 7–11 cm heavy-rain group. The possibility of local waterlogging is a forecast impact, not a confirmed incident.
Storm status unchanged: The 4:00 PM special bulletin reiterates the 11:30 AM IST observation of a deep depression near 15.1°N, 91.0°E, with winds of 50–60 km/h gusting to 70 km/h. A cyclonic storm and the name Arnab remain prospective, not officially observed or assigned. The separate sea-area bulletin issued at 6:00 PM repeats an older 8:30 AM depression observation; that is not evidence the system weakened after the later deep-depression observation. Check the dated marine bulletin.
25 October 2026, 3:00 PM IST — IMD upgrades Bay system to a deep depression; cautionary port signals for Kolkata and Sagar
Observed, not forecast: IMD’s special tropical weather outlook, issued at 3:00 PM IST (09:30 UTC) and based on observations at 11:30 AM IST (06:00 UTC), confirms that the system intensified from a depression into a deep depression. The centre was near 15.1°N, 91.0°E, about 870 km east-southeast of Visakhapatnam, after moving southwestwards at around 5 km/h. Estimated maximum sustained winds were 50–60 km/h, gusting to 70 km/h. The system has not yet been officially named Arnab.
Forecast, not yet observed: IMD projects cyclonic-storm intensity by the morning of 26 October, possible further strengthening, and crossing of the Andhra Pradesh–Yanam coast between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam around 11:30 AM IST on 28 October, potentially with sustained winds of 115–125 km/h, gusting to 140 km/h. The track, timing and intensity may change. Source: IMD special tropical weather outlook, 25 October, 3:00 PM IST.
West Bengal marine precautions: A separate IMD Kolkata coastal bulletin issued at 2:52 PM IST directed that Distant Cautionary Signal No. 1 remain hoisted at Kolkata Port and Sectional Signal No. III at Sagar Island Port. The same bulletin forecast mainly dry weather and smooth-to-slight seas along the West Bengal coast during its immediate validity period. The port signals are precautions, not confirmation of landfall near Kolkata.
Bengal rain outlook: IMD’s 25 October subdivision warnings flag thunderstorms and lightning in Gangetic West Bengal on 25–27 October, with heavy rain possible on 28–29 October. District-specific orders and travel restrictions must be independently verified.
Update clarification: The earlier 8:30 AM IST depression observation is retained below as part of the reporting record but has been superseded by the 11:30 AM IST deep-depression observation. The name “Arnab” remains prospective until officially assigned by IMD.
Earlier Kolkata marine bulletin — 25 October 2026, 8:30 AM IST observation (superseded by 11:30 AM upgrade)
IMD’s Kolkata sea-area bulletin, valid from 9:00 UTC on 25 October, describes a depression over the east-central and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal. At 8:30 AM IST, the centre was near 15.3°N, 91.2°E, about 440 km north-northwest of Sri Vijaya Puram, 880 km east-southeast of Visakhapatnam and 980 km east-southeast of Kakinada.
IMD forecasts further strengthening into a deep depression and then a cyclonic storm by the morning of 26 October; the outlook indicates possible severe cyclonic-storm intensity around 27 October and a potential crossing of the Andhra Pradesh–Yanam coast between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam around 28 October. These are forecast scenarios, not completed events. Read the IMD Kolkata sea-area bulletin.
For West Bengal, IMD’s subdivision warning table issued on 25 October flags thunderstorms and lightning in Gangetic West Bengal on 25–27 October, and heavy-rain risk on 28–29 October. The warning status for individual districts and particular days can change; readers should follow the current bulletin rather than assume every district faces the same risk. See the latest subdivisional warnings.
What is not confirmed: an official cyclone-name declaration, cyclone landfall, a cyclone warning requiring evacuation in Kolkata, casualty counts or any disruption that has not yet happened.
Live satellite tracker — Bay of Bengal, via Zoom Earth
LIVE BAY OF BENGAL SATELLITE VIEW · Zoom Earth
Explore the latest satellite cloud images and forecast layers, centred on the developing Bay of Bengal weather system. This is a live map, while the coordinates and forecast discussed in this article are the dated IMD observations stated alongside them.
OPEN LIVE ZOOM EARTH SATELLITE TRACKER
Map source: Zoom Earth. The live map opens in a new tab
Additional tracking tools
Cyclocane: Arnab storm tracker — a supplementary public tracker that has not yet labelled Arnab active as of 25 October. The page is expected to populate automatically once the storm is officially active.
If the supplementary panel does not load in your browser, use the direct Cyclocane link. IMD is the primary source for official classification, track and warnings.
Official bulletin links: IMD Cyclone Information · IMD Kolkata Sea-Area Bulletin · IMD Coastal Weather Bulletin.
Will the storm affect Kolkata, the Sundarbans and Digha?
The most significant forecast threat is currently farther south, along the Andhra Pradesh coast. That does not eliminate the chance of rain, squalls or disruption in Gangetic West Bengal. IMD’s 25 October warning table indicates an increased heavy-rain risk for the region around 28–29 October, but district forecasts and official advisories should determine local precautions. South 24 Parganas, coastal East Medinipur, the Sundarbans and Digha should pay particular attention to marine and coastal advisories, while Kolkata residents should monitor rain and lightning forecasts.
The 25 October Kolkata coastal bulletin described conditions along the West Bengal coast as mainly dry during that bulletin’s validity period. Do not interpret a later-week weather alert as evidence of dangerous conditions at every location right now. Harbour restrictions, school closures, suspension of transport and evacuation orders are not confirmed unless issued by the relevant authority.
Storm status at a glance
| Indicator | Last confirmed status |
|---|---|
| Official IMD classification | Deep depression, observed 11:30 AM IST, 25 October 2026 |
| Observed centre | 15.1°N, 91.0°E at 11:30 AM IST, 25 October |
| Potential cyclone name | Arnab is prospective; not officially named as of 3:00 PM IST, 25 October |
| Formation forecast | Deep depression observed; cyclonic storm forecast by morning of 26 October |
| Projected landfall region | Andhra Pradesh–Yanam coast around 28 October; subject to revision |
| West Bengal heavy-rain watch | 28 October: isolated heavy rain (7–11 cm) in South 24 Parganas, East/West Midnapore and Jhargram; 29 October: East/West Midnapore, Jhargram, Bankura and Purulia (IMD Kolkata, 4:00 PM bulletin) |
These values are from dated bulletins and are not updated continuously by the table. Check the live IMD and Zoom Earth links for fresh information.
Cyclone Arnab — live updates timeline
25 October, 4:00 PM IST bulletin: IMD Kolkata advises West Bengal fishermen not to venture to sea from 27–29 October, asks deep-sea vessels to return by 26 October, confirms cautionary port signals at Kolkata, Haldia and Sagar, and names districts under 28–29 October heavy-rain forecasts. This bulletin uses the 11:30 AM deep-depression observation.
25 October, 3:00 PM IST bulletin: IMD confirms the system strengthened into a deep depression at 11:30 AM IST, centred near 15.1°N, 91.0°E. Cyclonic-storm formation remains forecast, not observed.
25 October, 2:52 PM IST bulletin: Kolkata Port retains Distant Cautionary Signal No. 1; Sagar Island Port retains Sectional Signal No. III. Immediate West Bengal coastal forecast remains mainly dry.
25 October, 6:00 PM IST: Kolkata marine bulletin continues to classify the system as a depression and forecasts possible cyclonic-storm formation on 26 October.
25 October, 2:52 PM IST: IMD Kolkata coastal weather bulletin reports mainly dry conditions along the West Bengal coast during its immediate validity period.
25 October, 8:30 AM IST: The depression’s centre was reported at 15.3°N, 91.2°E.
24 October: The developing disturbance over the Bay of Bengal strengthened towards depression intensity.
The timeline will preserve past official observations while placing newly corroborated updates at the top. All times are Indian Standard Time.
What West Bengal residents should do now
- Check the latest IMD bulletins and local district administration notices before making coastal travel plans.
- Keep important phone numbers, drinking water, essential medicines, a torch and charged mobile devices available as routine preparedness.
- Fishermen and sea travellers should follow the latest official no-sail and marine advisories rather than forecasts copied to social media.
- If heavy rain occurs, avoid floodwater, exposed electrical wiring and unnecessary travel through waterlogged streets.
- Do not share past cyclone videos or historic storm tracks as footage of the current depression.
For an immediate emergency, India’s emergency response helpline is 112.
Editorial note: This rolling report is based on available official bulletins and corroborated coverage, not independent on-the-ground meteorological observations. Any future claim about cyclone formation, trajectory changes, casualties, evacuation or damage must be verified before publication. Updates are timestamped and factual corrections are recorded rather than quietly replacing reporting history.
