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Cyclone Asani now a low-pressure area

A spell of thunderstorm is not ruled out over the next two days, according to the Met forecast

Debraj Mitra Kolkata Published 13.05.22, 08:19 AM
Commuters take shelter under a footbridge on EM Bypass, near Science City, during rain on Thursday morning.

Commuters take shelter under a footbridge on EM Bypass, near Science City, during rain on Thursday morning. Picture by Gautam Bose

The remnant of Cyclone Asani had weakened into a low-pressure area on Thursday.

The city got a brief spell of rain in the morning. A spell of thunderstorm is not ruled out over the next two days, according to the Met forecast.

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“Wednesday’s deep depression weakened into a depression at 5.30am on Thursday and further weakened into a well-marked low pressure area over coastal Andhra Pradesh at 8.30am,” said a Met bulletin on Thursday afternoon.

“However, due to strong pressure gradient over Bay of Bengal, squally wind exceeding 45kmph is likely to prevail along and off northwest Bay of Bengal during 12-15 May. Fishermen are advised not to venture into the sea during 12-15 May over north Bay of Bengal.”

A Met official said the system was likely to dissipate by Friday.

Between midnight and the early hours of Wednesday, as it was near the Andhra Pradesh coast, the storm lost much of its steam.

The residual moisture in the atmosphere can trigger thunderstorms in the city on Friday and Saturday, he said.

“Thunderstorms need a combination of moisture incursion and heating. There is moisture in the atmosphere. But sufficient heating is needed,” said a Met official.

On Thursday, the maximum temperature in Kolkata was 32.8 degrees, two degrees below normal. The minimum relative humidity was over 60 per cent.

The sky remained partially cloudy for the better part of the day. The rain came in a short spell a little after 9am. The met office recorded around 8mm of rain in Alipore.

The mercury is likely to be in the 34-35 degree range by the weekend, said the official.

In the coming days, there is little chance of a new system on the Bay of Bengal, said Met officials.

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