Andhra Pradesh alerts on Asani Cyclone

By Our Special Correspondent

Cyclone Asani, formed over the southeast Bay of Bengal, further intensified into a severe cyclonic storm on Sunday evening as it moved northwestwards in the direction of north Andhra Pradesh-Odisha coasts, the Met department said. The severe cyclone, on reaching west central and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal off north Andhra Pradesh-Odisha coasts on Tuesday, is very likely to reserve north-northeast wards and move towards northwest Bay of Bengal off Odisha coast, it said.

Earlier, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday issued warning for fishermen venturing into the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea. The met department in its warning said, “Fishermen are advised not to venture into East-central and South-east Bay of Bengal and adjoining Andaman Sea on May 8. Meanwhile, fishermen were also advised not to venture into central parts of Bay of Bengal on May 9 and 10 and over Northwest Bay of Bengal from May 10-12.

From here on, the system will continue to move north westwards, and gradually intensify from cyclonic storm into a severe cyclonic storm over east-central Bay of Bengal by the early hours of Monday. This is when the system is expected to be at its strongest, as it may pack wind speeds up to 60 knots (111 km per hour). Thereafter, its north-westward movement will continue, and by Tuesday evening, severe cyclone Asani will reach west-central and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal — off the coasts of North Andhra and Odisha. It is then likely to recurve north-north-eastwards and move towards northwest Bay of Bengal, off the Odisha coast.