[Watch] Cyclone Asani Effect: Dark Rain Clouds Gather In Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha capital witnessed rain on Monday morning in the wake of the formation of Cyclone Asani over the southeast regions of the Bay of Bengal.

Altocumulus cloud associated with the severe cyclone was observed in Bhubaneswar sky and coastal Odisha.

The severe cyclonic storm, packing gale up to 120 km per hour, has been moving towards coastal Andhra Pradesh and Odisha at a speed of 25 km per hour but is expected to lose steam and weaken into a cyclone by Wednesday morning. The cyclone will spare Odisha but trigger heavy rainfall in the coastal areas of the state between Tuesday and Thursday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

Alert has been sounded for Odisha Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal. The Odisha government has planned to evacuate people residing in low-lying areas in four coastal districts – Ganjam, Puri, Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapada- as a precautionary measure. Distant warning signal 2 (asking ships not to come near the coast) has been hoisted in all ports in Odisha in view of the approaching severe cyclone.

YELLOW WARNING FOR ODISHA

May 10

Heavy rainfall (7-11 cm) is very likely to occur at one or two places in Gajapati, Ganjam and Puri districts.

May 11

Heavy rainfall (7-11 cm) is very likely to occur at one or two places in Ganjam, Khurda, Puri, Jagatsinghpur and Cuttack districts.

May 12

Heavy rainfall (7-11 cm) is very likely to occur at one or two places in Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Kendrapada, Bhadrak and Balasore districts.

Squally wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph is likely along and off Odisha coast on May 11 and 12.

Notably, heavy rain accompanied by lightning and thunderstorms lashed Kolkata this morning, inundating many areas of the city. “Thunderstorm with lightning and light to moderate rainfall likely to affect over some parts of Hooghly and West Midnapur districts of West Bengal during next 2-3 hours from 09:45 hours IST of today 09.05.2022.  People are advised to stay in a safe place during thunderstorm activity,” a statement from the Regional Meteorological Department read.

Also Read: Cyclone Asani: Check IMD’s Rain, Wind Warning

According to senior meteorologist Jason Nicholls, Asani will approach the Odisha coast before turning northeast around midweek. “Heavy rain and gusty winds possible along the Odisha & West Bengal coasts to Bangladesh,” he added.