Bhubaneswar: The deep depression over north Andaman Sea and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal, moved nearly northwards with a speed of 13 kmph during the last 6 hour and it is about 110 km east-southeast of Mayabundar, 170 km northeast of Port Blair, 530 km south-southwest of Yangon and 650 km south of Thandwe, the India Meteorological Department said in its midday bulletin on Monday.
The system is likely to intensify further into a cyclonic storm during the next 12 hours. It would continue to move nearly northwards along and off Andaman islands towards Myanmar during the next 48 hrs and cross its coast around Thandwe at 12 am on March 23, it added.
Check the expected track and intensity:
Notably, it is after almost two decades that the Indian Ocean will see a storm in the month of March. If the system intensifies into a cyclonic storm, it will be called ‘Cyclone Asani’, a name given by Sri Lanka.
Also Read: ‘Cyclone Asani’ Brewing In Bay Of Bengal: Who Named This Cyclone & What Does It Mean?
According to senior meteorologist Jason Nicholls, the deep depression over north Andaman is expected to become a cyclonic storm Asani by Monday night or Tuesday. “The storm is expected to strike Myanmar later Tuesday or Tuesday night. Another heatwave can grip Pakistan and N India this weekend into early next week,” he tweeted.
Nicholls had earlier warned of flooding rains during the movement of the cyclone.
The IMD has predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places over the Andaman and Nicobar Islands with isolated extremely heavy rainfall likely over the Nicobar Islands.
“Asani may weaken before landfall but when its intensity is of a cyclone, it will be very close to Andaman & Nicobar Islands. So, we are expecting widespread heavy rains and strong winds to affect the islands,” a senior official was quoted as saying by HT.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel have been deployed and are ready at different places with all necessary equipment to carry out search and rescue operations.
IMPACT ON ODISHA
According to the latest meteorological analysis, the current system will have no direct impact on Odisha.
The Met office has, however, forecast light to moderate rain or thundershower at one or two places in Ganjam, Gajapati and Rayagada on March 21. One or two places in Ganjam, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Koraput, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Bhadrak and Balasore are likely to experience rain during the subsequent 24 hours.
On March 23, light to moderate rain or thundershower is also likely at one or two places in Coastal Odisha, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Kandhamal, Rayagada, Malkangiri and Koraput.
