Cyclone Asani may briefly enter Andhra Pradesh but turn away into the sea before petering out, according to the updated forecast by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday.
Authorities in West Bengal expect no impact from the cyclone, though Odisha and Andhra Pradesh are on alert. Significant rain has been reported in several districts in these States.
As per the latest observations by the IMD, the storm was crossing the Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Narsapuram. It is expected to become a weaker ‘deep depression’ by Wednesday night and a ‘depression’ by Thursday.
“It is very likely to move towards the northeast along Narsapur, Yanam, Kakinada, Tuni & Visakhapatnam coasts till evening of today [Wednesday] and emerge into west-central Bay of Bengal off North Andhra Pradesh coasts by today night. It is likely to weaken further into a depression by 12th May morning,” the IMD said in its evening bulletin.
Considerable uncertainty exists around accurately predicting the track of the cyclone. Until late Tuesday, it was expected that it would approach north Andhra Pradesh, turn and move parallel to the coast towards West Bengal. “It is likely to enter as a weakened storm,” M. Mohapatra, Director-General, IMD, said.
Though the seas are expected to be rough until Thursday, windspeeds associated with the storm are expected to decelerate to 45 kmph from the current 95 kmph by early Thursday.
Several areas in Nellore, Prakasam, Kadapa, Visakhapatnam and Guntur in Andhra Pradesh received very heavy to heavy rainfall and most places in the coastal districts received light to moderate rainfall. Coastal districts will continue to receive rainfall on Thursday as the deep depression is likely to move along Yanam, Kakinada and Tuni coasts by morning.
(With inputs from bureaus)
Asani weakens into deep depression; crosses coast between Machilipatnam, Narsapuram
The cyclonic storm Asani weakened into a deep depression and crossed the Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Narsapuram on Wednesday evening.
According to the latest bulletin by the India Meteorological Department, the system crossed the coast between 5.30 p.m. and 7.30 p.m. after weakening into a deep depression with a wind speed of 55 to 65 kmph. As of 7.30 p.m., the deep depression lay centred over the coast and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal about 30 km from Machilipatnam and 40 km from Narsapuram.
During the next 12 hours, the deep depression would likely move along Yanam, Kakinada and Tuni coasts and it would weaken further into a depression by Thursday morning, as per the IMD. The sea would likely be very rough to rough on Thursday.
Andhra CM tells Collectors to be on high alert
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy instructed the Collectors of all coastal districts to be on a high alert to the impact of cyclone Asani, which weakened but is still likely to cause heavy rains in the state.
Mr. Reddy told the officials to stock up rice, edible oils and other essential commodities to help those affected by the cyclone.
South Central Railway cancels 46 trains due to Asani
The South Central Railway (SCR) has cancelled 46 trains and rescheduled and diverted a few other trains in wake of cyclone Asani.
Demu trains running between Vijayawada-Narsapur, Machilipatnam-Gudivada, Narsapur-Guntur Express, Kakinada Port-Vijayawada, Nidadavole-Narsapur, Bhimavaram Junction-Vijayawada, Bhimavaram Junction-Machilipatnam were cancelled on Wednesday.
Cyclone-triggered rains drastically bring down pollutants in Kolkata
Rains triggered by Cyclone Asani substantially improved the air quality of Kolkata on Wednesday as the index remained below 50 (particulate matter 2.5) in most parts, a West Bengal Pollution Control Board official said. The air quality improved by 60 per cent from last week, he said.
Last week the air quality index was hovering between 60-200 (AQI - PM 2.5) which had been the trend for the past one month, the official said. The rains, he said, have cleansed the air of fine pollutants like nitrogen dioxide and other particulate matters. - PTI
Andhra Pradesh stalls maritime trade operations at Kakinada deep-sea port
The Andhra Pradesh State Government on May 11 halted the maritime trade operations at Kakinada deep-sea port and anchorage port to avoid any untoward incidents and damage to infrastructure and ships in the wake of Cyclone Asani.
Operated by the Andhra Pradesh State Government, the Kakinada anchorage port is India’s prime port from where non-Basmati rice and Maize are exported to various countries round the year. The deep-sea port operated by the Kakinada Seaport Limited also exports non-Basmati and other materials from the Kakinada coast.
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CM Jagan Mohan Reddy chairs review meeting, relief camps opened
Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy chaired a review meeting, directing officials to ensure that people from low-lying areas should be evacuated. The government has opened 454 relief camps in seven districts that are likely to be affected.
31 rehabilitations centres, NDRF and SDRF teams are ready to press into the rescue operation on the Kakinada coast
Asani may hit A.P. coast in a few hours
Asani, which lays 40 km southeast of Machilipatnam in Andhra Pradesh, is expected to cross the coast near Antarvedi in a few hours, the State Disaster Management Authority said.
By late evening, Asani is expected to weaken further into a depression and drift back into the sea close to Yanam, the SDMA said. - PTI
Asani moves west-northwestwards, likely to weaken further into a depression by May 12 morning: IMD
Mysterious gold-coloured chariot washes ashore in Srikakulam
Odisha, Bengal brace for heavy rain
Several parts of Odisha and West Bengal are bracing for heavy rain as severe cyclone Asani weakened to a cyclonic storm on Wednesday, as it barrelled towards north coastal Andhra Pradesh, packing wind speed of 85 km per hour, the Met Department said.
The weather system is likely to further lose steam and turn into a depression by Thursday morning, it said.- PTI
Cyclone Asani to move north-northeastwards-wards till today evening
Several flights from Vizag cancelled again
Several flights to various destinations from Vizag Airport and the incoming flights have been cancelled on May 11 as a precautionary measure in view of the severe cyclonic storm Asani, which has now weakened to a cyclonic storm.
All IndiGo flights (22 arrivals and 22 departures) have been cancelled. AirAsia has cancelled two flights, one from Bengaluru and one from Delhi. However, AirAsia is yet to make an announcement on the operation or cancellation of its evening flight, according to Airport Director K. Srinivasa Rao.
Fresh heatwave spell in Delhi from May 13
The maximum temperature in Delhi is likely to hover around the 40-degree mark on Wednesday and start increasing thereafter as moisture-carrying easterly winds make way for hot and dry westerlies. The minimum temperature settled at 28 degrees Celsius, three notches more than normal.
A fresh heatwave spell was predicted over Delhi from Sunday, but easterly winds prevailing in the national capital under the impact of Cyclone Asani shielded the city against it. The heatwave spell is likely to start on Friday, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). - PTI
Cyclone Asani weakens as it approaches Andhra coast
Severe Cyclone Asani weakened to a cyclonic storm on Wednesday, May 11, 2022, as it barrelled towards north coastal Andhra Pradesh and came within 34 km of Narsapur in the State, packing wind speed of 85 km per hour and bringing heavy rains to the region, the weather office said here.
The weather system was expected to move away from the coast and further weaken into a depression by Thursday, it said.
Cyclone Asani nears east coast, starts losing steam: IMD
Severe cyclone Asani neared the east coast, packing gale-force winds up to 105 kmph, amid indication of gradual weakening on Tuesday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.
The cyclone, which was moving at 5 kmph in the morning, gained speed to 25 kmph later in the day, as it lay centred around 210 km south-southeast of Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh and 530 km south-southwest of Gopalpur in Odisha, according to the latest bulletin issued at 4.30 p.m. - PTI
Coastal Andhra braces for Cyclone Asani fury
Parts of north coastal Andhra Pradesh, including Kakinada and Visakhapatnam, were on Tuesday bracing to face the fury of severe cyclone Asani which barrelled towards the mainland and was expected to re-curve slowly back into the Bay of Bengal.
As of 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, the cyclone lay centred 170 km south of Kakinada and 290 km south-southwest of Visakhapatnam, packing a wind speed of 95 km per hour, gusting to 105 kmph and moving at a speed of 10 kmph, the weather office said. - PTI
Moving in a ‘cone of uncertainty’ over Bay of Bengal
The cyclonic storm Asani is currently moving in a “cone of uncertainty” over the west-central Bay of Bengal and is expected to cross the coast anywhere between Kakinada and Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday evening.
Special Chief Secretary (Disaster Management) G Sai Prasad said they were constantly monitoring the path of the cyclone and, accordingly, issuing alerts to the respective district administration. - PTI
Cyclone Asani shields Delhi against heatwave
The maximum temperature in Delhi dropped below the 40-degree mark on Tuesday as moisture-carrying easterly winds prevailed in the capital under the impact of severe Cyclone Asani. No heatwave is predicted for the next two days, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The Met office had earlier predicted a heatwave spell from Wednesday with temperatures soaring to 44 degrees Celsius. - PTI
