Cyclone Asani weakens, moves towards coastal Odisha, Andhra Pradesh

Asani, the severe cyclonic storm in the Bay of Bengal, is moving towards coastal Andhra Pradesh and Odisha at a speed of 25 km per hour on Monday, but is expected to weaken gradually over the next two days, the weather office said.

The storm is moving steadily north-westward to inch closer to Andhra Pradesh coast and is expected to move over north-west Bay of Bengal in the next 36 hours, Skymet said.  Sky has turned cloudy over North Tamil Nadu and South Coastal Andhra Pradesh in anticipation of storm movement but no impactful weather is expected in the next 24 hours.

Weakening gradually

According to IMD, Asani lay about 870 km west-northwest of Car Nicobar (Nicobar Islands), 730 kms west-northwest of Port Blair (Andaman Islands), 550 km southeast of Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) and 680 kms south-southeast of Puri (Odisha). The IMD bulletin said, it is very likely to move north-westwards till Tuesday and reach west-central and adjoining north-west Bay of Bengal off North Andhra Pradesh & Odisha coasts. Thereafter, it is very likely to re-curve north-north-eastwards and move towards north-west Bay of Bengal off Odisha coast.

Also read: Severe cyclone Asani raging in Bay of Bengal; expected to weaken without landfall

“It is then likely to weaken gradually into a Cyclonic Storm during next 48 hours,” the bulletin said.

Environmental conditions emerging now will not support further growth. Eventually, Skymet visualises the storm losing its steam gradually after 24 hours. But, Skymet advises no lowering of guard till definite signs of clearance appear on the horizon. Asani will continue tracking towards Andhra Pradesh coast and possibly come dangerously close, albeit with weakened zeal. Extreme caution needs to be exercised for the next 48 hours.

Cyclone may not make landfall

There is a fair degree of consensus amongst experts that the storm may not make any effective landfall over the Indian coast. Probability is growing large that the cyclone may not make landfall and run parallel to Andhra and Odisha coast.

The severe cyclonic storm is expected to weaken after 36 hours to an average cyclonic storm and erode further its intensity before commencing recurve track any time after May 11.

Unlike the two devastating predecessor cyclones Amphan and Yaas in May 2020 and 2021, respectively, Asani will not cause any severe damage to the coastline.

Fishermen have been advised not to venture into west-central Bay of Bengal till Tuesday and into north-west Bay of Bengal from May 10 to 12.

IMD has also predicted gale wind and light to moderate rains along the Odisha and Andhra Pradesh coast from May 10 to 12.

Also read: Aila, Amphan, Asani: Who names tropical cyclones and why?