Severe Cyclonic Storm ‘Asani to weaken gradually over next 2 days : IMD

Hyderabad: The Severe Cyclonic Storm ‘Asani’ (pronounced as Asani) over Westcentral and adjoining South Bay of Bengal moved nearly west-northwestwards with a speed of 25 kmph during the past 6 hours and lay centered at 0830 hours on Monday over the same region near latitude 14.0°N and longitude 86.0°E, about 920 km northwest of Car Nicobar (Nicobar Islands), 770 km west-northwest of Port Blair (Andaman Islands), 500 km southeast of Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) and 650 km south of Puri (Odisha). It is very likely to move northwestwards till May 10 and reach Westcentral and adjoining Northwest Bay of Bengal off North Andhra Pradesh & Odisha coasts, India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. In a bulletin this afternoon, it said thereafter the severe cyclonic storm is very likely to recurve north-northeastwards and move towards Northwest Bay of Bengal off Odisha coast. It is likely to weaken gradually into a Cyclonic Storm during the next 36 hours. Rainfall at a few places is very likely over coastal Andhra Pradesh. Light to moderate rainfall at a few places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places is likely over coastal Andhra Pradesh and heavy rainfall at isolated places is likely over coastal Odisha from May 10th evening. The bulletin said light to moderate rainfall at a few places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places is likely over coastal areas of north Andhra Pradesh and heavy rainfall at isolated places is likely over coastal Odisha & adjoining coastal West Bengal on Wednesday. Gale wind, speed reaching 100-110 kmph gusting to 120 kmph prevailing over Westcentral and adjoining South Bay of Bengal. It would gradually decrease becoming 90-100 kmph gusting to 110 kmph over Westcentral Bay of Bengal today. Fishermen are advised not to venture into Westcentral and adjoining South Bay of Bengal on May 9, into westcentral Bay of Bengal today and tomorrow and into Northwest Bay of Bengal during May 10 to 12. Fishermen out at sea are advised to return to coast, the bulletin added.