Cyclone Asani Forms, Likely To Become Severe Cyclonic Storm; Check Distance From Puri

Bhubaneswar: The Deep Depression over Bay of Bengal intensified into Cyclone Asani on Saturday morning and is likely to become a Severe Cyclonic Storm during the next 24 hours, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

“The Cyclonic Storm is likely 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,” the IMD said in a bulletin.

“The Deep Depression over southeast Bay of Bengal moved west-northwestwards at a speed of 16 kmph during past 6 hours, intensified into a cyclonic storm ‘Asani’ and lay centered at 0530 hours IST of today (Saturday) over Southeast Bay of Bengal near latitude 11.2°N and longitude 89.3°E, about 450 km west-northwest of Car Nicobar (Nicobar Islands), 970 km southeast of Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) and 1,020 km south-southeast of Puri (Odisha). It is very likely to move northwestwards and intensify further into a Severe Cyclonic Storm over east central Bay of Bengal during next 24 hours,” the IMD said on Saturday morning.

“It is very likely to continue to move northwestwards till May 10 evening and reach westcentral and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal off North Andhra Pradesh & Odisha coasts. Thereafter, it is very likely to recurve north-northeastwards and move towards northwest Bay of Bengal off Odisha coast,” the bulletin added.