The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a rare ‘red’ alert for coastal Karnataka and predicted ‘very heavy’ rains in Gujarat due to the formation of Cyclone Asna in the Arabian Sea. The cyclone, a rare occurrence in August, is brewing over the Saurashtra-Kutch region of Gujarat and is expected to intensify into a cyclonic storm on Friday, August 30.
Asna, a name suggested by Pakistan, is expected to move westward towards the Oman coast after emerging over the Arabian Sea. The IMD has classified this as a rare event, as only three cyclonic storms have developed in the Arabian Sea during August between 1891 and 2023.
The weather agency has issued an orange alert for Saurashtra-Kutch, South Interior Karnataka, and Kerala on August 30, and for North Interior Karnataka on August 31. Gujarat, Konkan-Goa, and Madhya Maharashtra are under an orange alert from September 2-3. Additionally, a specific orange alert has been issued for the coastal districts of Jamnagar, Porbandar, and Dwarka in Gujarat.
The IMD predicts ‘very heavy’ rainfall in Saurashtra and Kutch on August 30, and in Gujarat on September 1. Konkan, Goa, and the ghat areas of central Maharashtra are expected to experience very heavy rainfall from August 30 to September 5. Coastal Karnataka, Kerala, and Mahe are expected to experience widespread light to moderate rainfall during this period, with isolated instances of extremely heavy rainfall likely over Coastal Karnataka on August 30.
IMD scientist Soma Sen explained that the Monsoon trough is currently south of its normal position. Two weather systems are contributing to the situation: the deep depression over Kutch coast, which is likely to intensify into a tropical cyclone within the next six hours, and a low-pressure system off the north Andhra south Odisha coast. The depression over the Kutch coast is expected to move westwards, away from the Indian coast. Sen further noted that Delhi is expected to experience a dry spell for the next three days, with light to moderate rainfall anticipated later as the system moves inland.
