‘Cyclone Asani’ Brewing In Bay Of Bengal! Latest IMD Model Indicates Movement Towards Odisha

Bhubaneswar: A low-pressure area has formed over Equatorial Indian Ocean and adjoining Southwest Bay of Bengal under the influence of a cyclonic circulation over the same region, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) informed on Wednesday.

“Under the influence of cyclonic circulation over Equatorial Indian Ocean & adjoining Southwest Bay of Bengal a low-pressure area has formed over the same region and the associated cyclonic circulation extends up to mid­tropospheric levels,” it tweeted. 

Though the IMD is yet to forecast the possible path, movement and intensity of the system, models indicate that this could be the first cyclone this year in March after a gap of over two decades. A clear picture of the system is likely to emerge around March 20.

While the month has seen only 5 cyclones since 1900, INCOIS, NCEP-GFS to ECMWF models indicate that the system may develop into a very severe cyclone by March 19 and 20 and then weaken, before making landfall between Chittagong (Bangladesh) and Sittwe in Myanmar on March 23.

According to the latest IMD GFS model, the system might move towards Odisha and cross while being around 200 km away from its coast around March 24. And if the system intensifies into a cyclonic storm, it will be named ‘Cyclone Asani’.

Weather expert Surendranath Pasupalak said that the coastal areas of Odisha may experience heavy rainfall under the influence of this system with a wind speed of 60 km to 70 km gusting to 80 km with the system heading towards Bangladesh.