Severe Cyclonic Storm Asani is centered around 14.8°N and 83.9°E over West-Central Bay of Bengal (BoB). The storm has dropped its speed to just 5kmh as against 25kmh of yesterday. Asani has moved very slowly west-northwestward in the past 6hours and is located about 300km southeast of port city of Kakinada. It is expected to retain speed of 5-7kmh for the next 36hr. It means that the storm is going to languish over West – Central BoB in the proximity of South Coastal Andhra Pradesh and extreme North Coastal Tamil Nadu for the next 24hr. Thereafter, the storm will move more of northwest to come further closer to the coastline between Kakinada and Vizag.
Candidly speaking, the sharp outlines of the storm seen earlier appear to be slightly ragged and also loosing texture. As the storm moves further, it is drifting over relatively cooler waters, thereby lowering the ocean heat content along the track. Under the combined influence of entrainment, friction of landmass and increased vertical wind shear, cyclone will have a gradual weakening. It seems, Asani has already crossed its peak and is expected to lower its grade to a ‘cyclonic storm’ by this evening. Infiltration of drier air from the land will also cause waning of convection and drop in the gustiness of gale speed winds.
Cyclone Asani will start moving North-Northeastward and careen off the coast of Andhra Pradesh by tomorrow morning. The storm will then head for northern parts of BoB, keeping a safe distance from Odisha and West Bengal coast. The storm will weaken to a depression on 12th May morning while over open waters of the ocean.
Heavy to very heavy rains accompanied with strong winds of 60 -80kmh and gusting to 90kmh are likely over Coastal Andhra Pradesh. Locations like Machilipatnam, Narsapur, Kakinada, Tuni and Vizag will be at risk of prolonged inclement weather conditions. Moderate to heavy rains may also lash coastal parts of South Odisha. Moderate rain and thundershowers are also likely over coastal parts of North Tamil Nadu, including Chennai in the next 36hr. Exercise extreme caution to safeguard life and property till the danger of storm gets over by 13th May.
