Cyclone Asani may change direction, lose intensity – Times of India

Kolkata News

KOLKATA: Cyclone Asani, which is set to form over east central Bay of Bengal on Sunday, could ‘recurve’ off the north Andhra-Odisha coast on May 10 and take a north-northeast course and head towards the Odisha or the Bengal coast. It could, however, lose strength and weaken considerably as it moves along the coast and cease to be a cyclone before it hits land, said the Met office.
On Saturday, central and south Kolkata received light drizzle late at night but the city, along with the coastal districts of Bengal, may receive showers between May 10 and 13 under the impact of the system, including a heavy spell. Moisture from the system may also trigger thunderstorms.
“We are not ruling out the possibility of Asani hitting the Bengal or the Bangladesh coast. But the conditions indicate that it will lose intensity. Warm northwesterly winds from central India will start infiltrating the system as it approaches the coast on May 10. It could lessen the intensity of Asani. Cyclones draw strength from moist wind and once dry, warm winds get into it, they tend to weaken. This is why cyclones lose strength on hitting land, explained Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) director GK Das.
Meanwhile, the system developed into a well-marked low pressure area on Saturday and persisted over southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining South Andaman Sea. It then moved northwestward and intensified into a depression over southeast Bay of Bengal. It will further develop into a cyclonic storm over east central Bay of Bengal on May 8.
According to the RMC, Asani is likely to continue to move northwestwards till May 10 evening and reach west central and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal off north Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coasts. “Thereafter, it is very likely to recurve north-northeast wards and move towards Northwest Bay of Bengal off Odisha coast,” said a bulletin.
Kolkata and south Bengal could receive sporadic showers from Tuesday. “There could be a heavy spell as the system comes close to the coast. Thunderstorms could also be triggered as an impact since the system will be generating moisture. But we don’t expect very heavy showers or very high wind speed as a result of Asani,” said Das.

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/cyclone-asani-may-change-direction-lose-intensity/articleshow/91410540.cms