Cyclone Asani Not to Put Impact on Odisha: IMD

Bhubaneswar: The India Metrological Department (IMD) today said that the possible cyclonic storm ‘Asani’ will have no impact on Odisha.

The cyclonic storm, which is likely to form over the Bay of Bengal around March 21, will have no impact on Odisha, informed IMD DG Mrutyunjay Mohapatra.

He said that the forecasted system will put no impact on Odisha, which is unlikely to witness rainfall or heavy wind due to the system.

The system will become well-marked and lie Southeast of the Bay of Bengal and the South Andaman Sea and Nicobar Island by March 19 morning. After that, there will be a change in its direction and the system will gradually head north-northwestward near Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It is likely to intensify into a depression on March 20 and develop into a cyclonic storm by March 21.

The IMD has warned fishermen not to venture into the southern part of Bay of Bengal, southeast Bay of Bengal & Andaman Sea.

After intensifying into a cyclone, the system is then expected to move in the north-northeastward direction and reach Bangladesh and Myanmar’s coast by March 23 evening.

Under its influence, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the nearby areas will experience squally weather from March 18 with a wind speed of 40 to 50 gusting to 60 km. The wind speed will increase in these areas from March 19 and reach 90 km on March 23.

The system is unlikely to turn severe and is likely to be a cyclonic storm of wind speed of 70 km to 80 km gusting to 9 km. Andaman and Nicobar islands will experience heavy to extremely heavy rainfall from March 19-21. Fishermen are advised not to venture into the southern part of South Bay of Bengal, southeast Bay of Bengal & Andaman Sea, the IMD said.