The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in its most recent bulletin on Tuesday morning that cyclonic storm Montha over the west-central Bay of Bengal has strengthened into a severe cyclonic storm.
Currently travelling at 15 kmph north-northwest, the system is predicted to reach landfall as a strong cyclonic storm on the evening or night of October 28 between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam, close to Kakinada.
Cyclone Montha's centre was around 190 km south-southeast of Machilipatnam, 270 km south-southeast of Kakinada, 340 km south-southwest of Visakhapatnam, and 550 km south-southwest of Gopalpur (Odisha) as of 5:30 a.m. today, October 28, 2025.

The IMD has issued a "Red Message" cyclone warning for the south Odisha coasts, advising fishermen to stay out of the sea and coastal residents to stay indoors during the storm's passage. The Odisha government has put disaster response teams and district administrations on high alert, especially in Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Malkangiri, and Koraput, which may experience heavy rainfall and strong winds as the system moves inland. The storm is expected to sustain wind speeds of 90 to 100 kmph, with gusts of up to 110 kmph during landfall, potentially causing significant damage in coastal Andhra Pradesh and adjacent southern Odisha districts.

Emergency operations and evacuation plans are in place in vulnerable coastal districts, and authorities in both Andhra Pradesh and Odisha are keeping a careful eye on the situation.
The IMD and state disaster management authorities have issued official updates and safety cautions, and meteorologists have cautioned of the potential for storm surge and localised flooding in low-lying areas.