A cyclone is a huge spinning storm that forms over warm sea and brings strong wind and rain when it reaches land. One such storm, named Murasu, was heading for the east coast of India on Monday 2 November. Forecasters call it a severe cyclonic storm.
The storm was expected to cross the coast of Andhra Pradesh, a state in southern India. The crossing point was forecast between the towns of Nellore and Narsapur, close to the town of Ongole. That crossing was expected between 11:30 PM on 2 November and 4 AM on 3 November.
Winds were expected to blow at 100 to 110 kilometres an hour, with gusts up to 120 kilometres an hour. Further south, schools in the big city of Chennai were closed on Monday. Far away in the north, the capital region around Delhi was reported to be spared.