Cyclone Asani keeps Kolkata on tenterhooks – Times of India

Kolkata News
KOLKATA: Cyclone Asani developed into a severe cyclonic storm on Sunday evening and surged northwestward. It is set to recurve close to the north Andhra-Odisha coast on May 10 and move parallel to the Odisha coast in a north-northeast direction. Asani, which raged around 1000 km south-southeast from the Puri coast on Sunday afternoon, could weaken ‘significantly’ from Monday and even disintegrate and cease to be a cyclone before it hits land, said the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC).
It may get reduced to a low-pressure area or a cyclonic circulation by the time it reaches coast. South Bengal could receive light to moderate rain between May 10 and 12 under its impact, with ‘isolated’ heavy rain in some places.

Incursion of warm northwesterly winds from central India will turn the cyclone weak, said RMC director GK Das. “Once it reaches close to the Andhra-Odisha coast, wind from land will infiltrate the system. This will reduce the moisture content of the system and increase the wind shear or direction of Asani that will lead to its disintegration. Cyclones need a uniform wind speed and shear to persist and move,” said Das.
An IMD bulletin said the cyclone was likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm on Sunday evening over east-central Bay of Bengal and continue to move north-west till May 10 evening. “It is set to reach west-central and adjoining north-west Bay of Bengal on Tuesday evening off north Andhra-Odisha coast and then recurve, moving in a north-northeast direction. Subsequently, Asani will move parallel to Odisha coast. It’s still not clear if it will lose intensity or continue to move towards coast as a cyclone,” said deputy director-general of meteorology Sanjib Bandopadhyay.
The coastal districts of East Midnapore, South and North 24 Parganas are predicted to receive rain from Tuesday to Thursday. There could be spells of heavy rain in some places of these districts, said Bandopadhyay. A warning has been issued for fishermen in these districts while tourist activities at the beaches have been sought to be restricted. Fishermen have been asked to return by May 9 evening.
Kolkata, though, is unlikely to be significantly impacted. “The system is likely to be reduced to a low-pressure by the time it reaches Kolkata, so the city may receive light to moderate rain,” said Das. Cyclones could gather steam or lose intensity as they move towards the coast, said Bandopadhyay.

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/cyclone-asani-keeps-kolkata-on-tenterhooks/articleshow/91425781.cms