(CNN) India is preparing for the strongest landfalling tropical cyclone in nearly five years, as Tropical Cyclone Fani moves up the east coast of the subcontinent.

Fani, located in the Bay of Bengal roughly 270 kilometers (170 miles) off of the coast of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, has intensified significantly over the past couple of days and could strengthen further as it nears the coast over the next 24-48 hours.

As of Wednesday, Fani had winds of 195 kph (120 mph), which would make it equivalent in intensity to a Category 3 major hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale

The last time India had a storm equivalent to a major hurricane (Category 3 or greater) make landfall was Tropical Cyclone Hudhud in 2014 , according to records from NOAA.

Tropical cyclone-force winds greater than 60 kph (39 mph) will begin to spread over the states of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha on Thursday as the storm parallels the coastline for more than 24 hours before finally making landfall on Friday in Odisha.

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