The IMD said cyclone Asna will continue moving nearly west-northwestwards over the northeast Arabian Sea, away from the Indian coast over the next two days.
Asna in Urdu means “the one to be acknowledged or praised”.
According to the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC), only four places in the state received 15 mm to 26 mm of rain between 6 am and 2 pm. Other parts remained dry or received light showers during this period.
Where Is Cyclone Asna Moving?
The deep depression over Gujarat’s Kachchh moved westward from the Northeast Arabian Sea with a speed of 6 kmph during the past 6 hours. It intensified into cyclonic storm ‘Asna’ and lay centered at 1130 hours over the same region. It, as per IMD, will continue moving nearly west-northwestwards over the northeast Arabian Sea, which is away from the Indian coast in the next two days, the weather department added, as per PTI.
It is nearing the coast of Kutch and adjoining areas in Pakistan.
Why Is This Storm Surprising
The storm has been a surprising fact for those who study it. Madhavan Nair Rajeevan, former secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, said it was different to see the weather system over the North Arabian Sea intensifying into a cyclonic storm, reported PTI.
“During our training we learnt from our teachers and textbooks that the North Arabian sea becomes colder during the monsoon season due to ocean upwelling and no weather system can intensify over there,” he added, quoted PTI.
He further asked, “How does this happen? The Arabian sea is warming up as a part of global warming. But we need to understand the mechanisms better. It is high time we need to revise meteorology textbooks describing the dynamics of monsoon weather systems by incorporating this kind of new information and insights. We need to be better prepared for climate change adaptation strategies”.