Landfall Unlikely In Odisha Or Andhra Pradesh; IMD DG On Cyclone Asani’s Impact

Bhubaneswar: With the possible cyclone Asani recurving north-northeastwards and moving towards northwest Bay of Bengal after reaching westcentral and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal off North Andhra-Odisha coast, India Meteorological Department (IMD) DG Mrutyunjay Mohapatra on Saturday said it is unlikely to make landfall in Odisha or Andhra Pradesh.

“The system is now moving towards the coast in a northwestwards direction as a well-marked low pressure. It will continue to move northwestwards till May 10 evening and thereafter recurve in the sea towards north-northeastwards. After moving along the Odisha coast, the system will gradually weaken due to cold waters in the North Bay of Bengal,” he said.

He further said that the condition of the sea near Odisha coast will start becoming rough from May 9, and wind speed will increase up to 80-90 kmph on May 10. “In the coastal areas, the wind speed will be 40-50 kmph and gusting up to 60 kmph. The maximum wind speed will be 50-60 kmph. The windy conditions will continue till May 11 and reduce thereafter,” he said.

“Light to moderate rainfall will start in coastal districts like Ganjam, Gajapati, Khurda, Jagatsinghpur and Puri after May 10 evening,” he added.

According to IMD’s special bulletin, light to moderate rainfall is very likely to commence at many places in coastal Odisha on May 10 evening. Heavy rainfall (7 -11cm) is very likely to occur at one or two places in Gajapati, Ganjam, and Puri. The following day, heavy rain will lash one or two places in Ganjam, Khurda, Puri, Jagatsinghpur and Cuttack.

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Squally wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph is likely along and off Odisha coast, it added.

“From May 10, wind speed over Odisha and North Andhra Pradesh will be 70-80 kmph. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea due to rough conditions. Odisha, North Andhra Pradesh and the westcentral Bay of Bengal will be affected,” said Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre Scientist Umashankar Das.

According to Joint Typhoon Warning Centre, the system is very likely to move parallel to the Odisha coast towards the West Bengal and Bangladesh coasts.

Cyclone Asani may have the same intensity as that of weak tropical storm Jawad, which had formed over the Bay of Bengal in December last year, weather experts said.