Asani intensifies into a severe cyclonic storm

Bhubaneswar: The Cyclonic storm ‘Asani’ formed over the southeast Bay of Bengal has intensified into a severe cyclonic storm, informed the Regional Meteorological Centre on Sunday.

The meteorological department further stated that ‘Asani’ lay centered 880 km away from Puri in the north-northeast direction over the Bay of Bengal.

The cyclonic storm moved nearly northwestwards with a speed of 14 kmph during the past 6 hours. It is likely to continue to move northwestwards till May 10 evening and reach Westcentral and adjoining Northwest Bay of Bengal off North Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coasts. Thereafter, it is very likely to recurve north-northeastwards and move towards northwest Bay of Bengal off Odisha coast.

(i) Rainfall warning 

10 May: Light to moderate rainfall at a few places with heavy rainfall at isolated places is likely over

coastal Odisha and adjoining areas of north coastal Andhra Pradesh from 10th evening.

11 May: Light to moderate rainfall at a few places with heavy rainfall at isolated places is likely over

coastal Odisha and adjoining coastal areas of north Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal.

12 May: Light to moderate rainfall likely at a few places with heavy rainfall at isolated places is likely over coastal areas of Odisha and West Bengal.

(ii) Wind warning

10 May: Gale wind speed reaching 95-105 kmph gusting to 115 kmph is likely to prevail around the system center over Westcentral and adjoining Northwest Bay of Bengal. Squally wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph is likely along and off north Andhra Pradesh coast.

11 May: Gale wind speed reaching 80-90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph is likely to prevail over northwest and adjoining Westcentral Bay of Bengal. Squally wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph is likely along and off Odisha and adjoining north Andhra Pradesh coasts.

12 May: Gale wind speed reaching 60-70 kmph gusting to 80 kmph is likely to prevail over northwest Bay of Bengal. Squally wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph is likely along and off Odisha coast.