The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday, 8 May, confirmed the development of Cyclone Asani over the south-east region of Bay of Bengal.
"The deep depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal Sunday intensified into a cyclonic storm 'ASANI'," the IMD said in a statement.
Heavy rains are expected in Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and West Bengal, the weather office said, as the cyclone is likely to remain over the east-central Bay of Bengal region.
The predictions for Monday indicate light to moderate rainfall at a few places over coastal Odisha and adjoining areas of north coastal Andhra Pradesh. This is likely to continue on Tuesday and Wednesday as well, with some rainfall in coastal West Bengal too.
The IMD has also given warnings for fishermen advising them not to venture into East Central and Southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining Andaman Sea on Sunday.
Rainfall is likely to begin on Tuesday evening over Odisha. The districts expecting heavy rainfall on Tuesday are Gajpati, Ganjam, and Puri. On Wednesday heavy rains are expected in Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Cuttack, and Ganjam.
Rainfall will begin in West Bengal Wednesday onwards and it is expected to continue on Thursday.
In Andaman and Nicobar islands, heavy rains are expected on Sunday.
Light showers are also likely over Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Sikkim till 12 May.
The cyclone has rapidly intensified because of the high temperatures at the Bay of Bengal currently.
As of Sunday morning the cyclone had been moving up from the Bay of Bengal towards Odisha for over six hours at the speed of 16 kmph.
“Cyclone Asani is very likely to continue to move northwestwards till Tuesday evening and reach west-central and adjoining Northwest Bay of Bengal region, off north Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coasts. Thereafter, it is very likely to recurve north-north-eastwards and move towards northwest Bay of Bengal, off Odisha coast.”India Meteorological Department.
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