‘Asani’ moves west-northwestwards, distant warning signal hoisted at all ports of Odisha

Bhubaneswar, May 9(Reporters Today Bureau): Even as Cyclone Asani moved nearly west-northwestwards with a speed of 25 kmph during the past six hours and lay centered at around 5.30 AM on Monday over West-central and adjoining South Bay of Bengal, distant warning signal No.2 (DW-2) was hoisted at all ports of Odisha as precautionary measure.

The cyclone was at about 870 km west-northwest of Car Nicobar (Nicobar Islands), 730 km west-northwest of Port Blair (Andaman Islands), 550 km southeast of Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), and 680 km south-southeast of Puri (Odisha).

It is very likely to move northwestwards till May 10 night and reach Westcentral and adjoining Northwest Bay of Bengal off North Andhra Pradesh & Odisha coasts, the India Meteorological Department said.

It said thereafter, it is very likely to recurve north-northeast wards and move towards Northwest Bay of Bengal off Odisha coast.

It is likely to weaken gradually into a Cyclonic Storm during the next 48 hours.

Under its influence, light to moderate rainfall at a few places with heavy rainfall at isolated places is likely over coastal Odisha and adjoining areas of north coastal Andhra Pradesh from the evening of May 10.

Light to moderate rainfall at a few places with heavy rainfall at isolated places is likely over coastal Odisha and adjoining coastal areas of north Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal on May 11 and over coastal areas of Odisha and West Bengal on May 12.

Gale wind speed reaching 100-110 kmph gusting to 120 kmph is prevailing over West-central and adjoining South Bay of Bengal.

It would gradually decrease, becoming 90-100 kmph gusting to 110 kmph over West Central and adjoining South Bay of Bengal. on May 9.

On May 10, gale wind speed reaching 85-95 kmph gusting to 105 kmph is likely to prevail around the system center over West Central and adjoining Northwest Bay of Bengal. It would gradually decrease, becoming 70-80 kmph gusting to 90 kmph over West Central and adjoining Northwest Bay of Bengal.

Squally wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph is likely along and off north Andhra Pradesh coast.

On May 11, gale wind speed reaching 70-80 kmph gusting to 90 kmph is likely to prevail over northwest and adjoining Westcentral Bay of Bengal.

It would gradually decrease, becoming 60-70 kmph gusting to 80 kmph over northwest and adjoining Westcentral Bay of Bengal. Squally wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph is likely along and off Odisha and adjoining north Andhra Pradesh coasts.

On May 12, gale wind speed reaching 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph is likely to prevail over northwest Bay of Bengal. It would gradually decrease becoming 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph over northwest Bay of Bengal. Squally wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph is likely along and off Odisha coast.

As the sea condition is very likely to become high to very high, fishermen have been advised not to venture into West-central and adjoining South Bay of Bengal on May 9, into west-central Bay of Bengal on May 9 and 10, and into Northwest Bay of Bengal from May 10 to 12. Fishermen out at sea have been advised to return.