Tropical Cyclone “Asani” intensifies, moving WNW toward Andhra Pradesh, India

Severe Cyclonic Storm “Asani” – the first named storm of the 2022 North Indian Ocean cyclone season, has intensified over the past 24 hours and is moving WNW at a speed of 10 km/h (6 mph) toward Andhra Pradesh, India where isolated extremely heavy rainfall is expected on May 11.

Thereafter, it is very likely to recurve NNE and move towards the northwest Bay of Bengal off north Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coasts.

At 05:30 IST on May 10 (00:00 UTC), the center of Tropical Cyclone “Asani” was located approximately l 300 km (185 miles) southeast of Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, 330 km (205 miles) south-southeast of Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, and 510 km (315 miles) south-southwest from Gopalpur, Odisha.

Its maximum 3-minute sustained winds were estimated at 100 km/h (65 mph), gusting up to 120 km/h (75 mph) while maximum 1-minute sustained winds were estimated at 120 km/h (75 mph).

The minimum central barometric pressure was 988 hPa and the system was moving WNW at 5 km/h (3 mph).

Warnings issued by RSMC New Delhi

Rainfall

May 10: Light to moderate rainfall at many places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at
isolated places are likely over coastal Andhra Pradesh and rainfall at a few places with heavy
rainfall at isolated places over coastal Odisha from the night of May 10 (LT).

May 11: Light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall in a few
places with isolated extremely heavy falls are likely over north coastal Andhra Pradesh and
heavy rainfall at isolated places is likely over coastal Odisha and adjoining coastal West Bengal.

May 12: Light to moderate rainfall likely at a few places with heavy rainfall at isolated places
is likely over the coastal areas of Odisha and West Bengal.

Wind warning

Gale wind speed reaching 100 – 110 km/h (62 – 68 mph) gusting to 120 km/h (75 mph) is prevailing around the system center over the westcentral Bay of Bengal.

Winds are expected to gradually decrease to 80 – 90 km/h (50 – 55 mph) gusting to 100 km/h (62 mph) over the westcentral and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal from the midnight of May 10 and become 65 – 75 km/h (40 – 45 mph) gusting to 85 km/h (52 mph) from the evening of May 11 over the same region.

Further, it would decrease to 55 – 65 km/h (34 – 40 mph) gusting to 75 km/h (45 mph) over the northwest and adjoining the westcentral Bay of Bengal from the morning of May 12.

Squally wind speed reaching 40 – 50 km/h (25 – 31 mph) gusting to 60 km/h (37 mph) is prevailing along and off the Andhra Pradesh coast. It is likely to increase to 55 – 65 km/h (34 – 40 mph) gusting to 75 km/h (45 mph) from the early hours of May 11 for the subsequent 24 hours.

Squally wind speed reaching 40-50 km/h (25 – 31 mph) gusting to 60 km/h (37 mph) is likely to continue along and off the Odisha coast from May 10 to 12 and along and off the West Bengal coast from May 11 to the evening of May 12.

Sea condition

Sea condition is likely to be very high over westcentral Bay of Bengal until midnight on May 10. It would become high over northwest and adjoining westcentral Bay of Bengal on May 11 and very rough to rough over the same region on May 12.

Fishermen warning

Total suspension of fishing operations over westcentral Bay of Bengal on May 10 and 11 and over northwest Bay of Bengal from May 10 to 12.

Fishermen are advised not to venture into westcentral Bay of Bengal on May 10 and 11 and into Northwest Bay of Bengal from May 10 to 12.

Fishermen out at sea are advised to return to coast.

References:

Severe Cyclonic Storm ‘ASANI’ over Westcentral Bay of Bengal – India Meteorological Department – Bulletin NO.21 (BOB/03/2022)

Featured image: Tropical Cyclone “Asani” at 06:00 UTC on May 10, 2022. Credit: EUMETSAT/Meteosat-8, zoom.earth, TW