Cyclone Asani Brings Cooler Winds, Respite to Delhi; Heatwave Pushed Till 12 May
However, after 12 May, temperatures in Delhi are expected to cross 44 degrees Celsius.
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After days of witnessing extreme heat, Delhi has now started to receive cooler easterly winds due to Cyclone Asani. This will bring the city a much-needed respite from the heat and delay a fresh heatwave, which had been predicted to hit northern India on Tuesday.
Weather experts predicted that the cyclone, hovering over the southeast region of the Bay of Bengal, will bring cooler weather in Delhi until Thursday, 12 May. Earlier, the national capital was scheduled to witness heatwave conditions from Tuesday, 10 May, as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had predicted the maximum temperature to likely be around 44 degrees Celsius.
However, after 12 May, the IMD has predicted a heatwave between 13 and 15 May, with the maximum temperature expected to rise to around 42 degrees C at Safdarjung and over 44 degrees C in some parts of Delhi.
RK Jenamani, senior weather scientist, IMD, said that the moist, cooler winds brought by cyclone Asani will keep the heat spells in check in Delhi till at least 12 May, reported The Times of India.
He said, “The spell of heatwaves has been delayed because there are few chances of warm westerly winds. After the effect of the cyclone ends, we are expecting a western disturbance a few days later.”
"From May 13th to 14th, heatwave conditions may develop over Delhi, Punjab, and Haryana. Another active western disturbance is coming around May 16th, and there are chances of rainfall over Delhi after that," he added.
On Wednesday, the IMD said that Safdarjung, the base station for Delhi, recorded a maximum temperature at 39.5 degrees Celsius as against 40 degrees Celsius logged in on Tuesday.
Talking about West and Central India, Jenamani said, "As of today west Rajasthan and Vidarbha are having 44 to 45 degrees Celcius in about 7-8 stations. Heatwave is prevailing and it will continue for the next 3-4 days. West Madhya Pradesh may have heatwave conditions for the next 3 days."
Red Alert Issued in Andhra Pradesh
Meanwhile, Cyclone Asani is likely going to touch Andhra Pradesh's Kakinada coast on Wednesday, the Visakhapatnam cyclone warning centre director Sunanda said late on Tuesday. After touching the Kakinada coast, it will come to the sea between Kakinada and Visakhapatnam
A cyclone warning and a red alert have been issued in Andhra Pradesh.
"Asani cyclone has now moved eastward, it is now in east of Macchalipattnam. Today, coastal Andhra Pradesh will have extremely heavy rainfall, red warning issued, isolated heavy rainfall tomorrow, orange warning issued. Yellow warnings for rainfall in Odisha & WB," RK Jenamani said.
As per the IMD's latest update, Cyclone Asani lies about 40 km southeast of Machilipatnam, 170 km south-southeast of Kakinada and 50 km south-southwest of Narsapur.
At 01:17 pm on Wednesday, the storm was moving at 70-80 kmph, gusting to 90 kmph.
Meanwhile, talking about the developments in Odisha, Pradeep Kumar Jena, special relief commissioner, Odisha, said, "Due to cyclone 'Asani', the highest rainfall is recorded in Khordha district, followed by Gajapati and Naigarh. Ghasipura block in Kendujhar district recorded 72.3 mm rain, Kanas block in Puri district with 56mm rain."
"Today midnight cyclone 'Asani' will start to recurve from Kakinada area of Andhra Pradesh again to the Bay of Bengal. So there will be no such major problems in Odisha. Wind speed will be around 30 to 40 kmph. Heavy rain at some places in the state may occur," he added.
(With inputs from The Times of India and ANI.)
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