Cyclone Asani moving towards Odisha and Andhra, likely to cause heavy rain along coasts | Top points
India Today
Cyclone Asani is moving northwestwards and it will reach Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coasts by Monday night. Heavy rains are expected to batter the coastal region.
Cyclone Asani triggers heavy rainfall in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal coastal areas but it is unlikely to make landfall and will weaken further. As per the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the cyclonic system is likely to weaken gradually from a severe cyclonic storm into a cyclonic storm during the next 24 hours and further into a deep depression by May 12.
According to the latest weather update, as of 2.30 am on May 10, Cyclone Asani laid centered over westcentral and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal. It is 330 km southeast of Andhra's Kakinada and 510 km south-southwest of Odisha's Gopalpur coast.
"The Severe Cyclonic Storm ‘Asani’ (pronounced as Asani) over Westcentral and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal moved west-northwestwards with a speed of 07 kmph during past 06 hours and lay centered at 0230 hours IST of today, the 10th May, over westcentral and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal. It is 330 km southeast of Kakinada (Andhra Pradesh), 350 km south- southeast of Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), 510 km south-southwest of Gopalpur (Odisha) and 590 km south-southwest of Puri (Odisha)," the bulletin reads.
The Severe CS ‘Asani’ over Westcentral and adjoining southwest BoB moved west-northwestwards and lay centered at 2330 hours IST of yesterday over westcentral and adjoining southwest BoB 330 km southeast of Kakinada (Andhra Pradesh), 350 km south-southeast of Visakhapatnam. pic.twitter.com/CSapgUpsVO
The system will likely move nearly northwestwards till the night of May 10 and reach westcentral Bay of Bengal off North Andhra Pradesh coast and the adjoining Odisha coast. It is likely to recurve north-northeastwards and move towards northwest Bay of Bengal off the Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coasts.
The IMD has predicted gale winds on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. It has also warned of squally wind speeds reaching 40-50 kmph, gusting to 60 kmph likely along and off north Andhra Pradesh coast on May 10; along Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coast on May 11 and along Odisha and West Bengal coasts on May 12.
The IMD has advised fishermen are advised not to venture into the west central Bay of Bengal on May 9 and 10 and into the Northwest Bay of Bengal from May 10 to 12. All fishermen out at sea have been advised to return to return to the coast.
