New Delhi, Oct. 26 -- Severe cyclonic storm 'Arnab' over the West Central Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify further into a very severe cyclonic storm within the next 12 hours and cross the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam by the forenoon of October 28, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Monday.

In its bulletin based on observations at 05:30 pm today, the IMD issued a cyclone warning for the Andhra Pradesh and adjoining south Odisha coasts, marking it as a red message. The storm, pronounced 'Ornab', moved west-northwestwards at a speed of 17 kmph during the past six hours and intensified into a severe cyclonic storm over the West Central Bay of Bengal.

At 05:30 pm, the system was centred...