Cyclone Asani bringing more rain over the next two days

By Matichon, Naewna and Financial Express newspapers

MOST of Thailand will be hit by rain with some areas lashed by heavy-to-torrential falls after Cyclone Asani moves to Myanmar and Bangladesh from Bay of Bengal tomorrow or the day after (Mar. 21- 22).

Thai and Indian Meteorological departments forecast that the well-marked low-pressure area over southeast Bay of Bengal and south Andaman Sea will intensify into a depression today and a cyclonic storm tomorrow. It will move towards the north-northeast and reach the coasts of Bangladesh and Myanmar over the next two days.

Parts of Bangkok were hit by rain leading to some roads getting flooded and traffic at a standstill this afternoon.

Ms. Chomparee Chompurat, the head of the Thai Met department, said after the cyclone makes a landfall in Myanmar southerly and southeasterly winds prevailing over the north, central, eastern and southern regions will strengthen.

There will be more rain in Thailand with heavy showers to hit some parts of the north and central regions and southern part of the eastern coast while the southern part of the western coast will be lashed with torrential downpour. People in these areas are warned to watch out for thunderstorms.

Waves will be stronger in the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, reaching three metres high in the upper Andaman Sea area and staying at one to two metres in the lower Andaman Sea zone and the Gulf of Thailand.

Small boats in the upper Andaman Sea area should stay ashore till Mar. 22.

India’s Andaman and Nicobar Islands administration is making necessary arrangements to deal with any eventuality, including evacuating people from low-lying areas, amid warnings of Cyclone Asani hitting the archipelago.

Chief Secretary Jitendra Narain reviewed the administration’s preparedness on Friday and asked stakeholders to set up temporary camps with provisions for food, water, and basic amenities for evacuees, the islands’ administration said in a statement.

Narain also suspended all shipping services due to the inclement weather. Fishing boats have been barred from venturing into the sea. He also asked the islands’ disaster management department to issue pamphlets and generate awareness among the population.

CAPTIONS:

Storm clouds over Bangkok this afternoon, top, while Ladprao road from Ladprao soi 77 to 95 was flooded after the rainfall leading to traffic coming to a standstill, below. Photo: JS100 Radio

Home Page: Indian National Disaster Response Force personnel were airlifted to Andaman and Nicobar Islands to cope with Cyclone Asani, in Arakkonam, today, Mar. 20, 2022.  Photo: PTI Photo and published by Financial Express