As Bangladesh prepares to face severe cyclonic storm Asani in the coming days, another depression was detected in the Indian Ocean on Sunday.
The Indian Meteorological Department fears that this low too could turn into a cyclone, which may increase the speed of Asani.
Meteorologists say that twin cyclones are not uncommon, but they will have to observe the depressions to see which one may affect the countries in the next coming days.
The depressions are likely to evaporate water vapor from the Andaman Sea and Indian Ocean, and the wind flows are likely to be in opposite directions, they said.
Hence, it is difficult to say which one would be stronger.
Severe cyclonic storm Asani over west central Bay and adjoining southeast Bay moved north-Westwards and now lies over west central Bay and adjoining area.
Asani was centred at 6am on Monday about 1,085km south-southwest of Chittagong port, 1,020km south-southwest of Cox’s Bazar port, 1,020km south-southwest of Mongla port and 995km south-southwest of Payra port, said a Met Office bulletin.
It is likely to move in a Northwesterly direction, it said.
Asani is likely to reach Westcentral and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal off North Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coast in India on Tuesday, according to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).
There is a possibility that the storm might later move over Satkhira area.
Maritime ports are advised to hoist Distant Warning Signal No 2.
Cyclone Asani is a bit of an anomaly. It is relatively rare for cyclones to form in March. Oceans tend to be cooler during this time as seasons shift from winter to summer. Only eight cyclones have formed in the month of March between 1891 and 2020.
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According to sources, such cyclones often occur in May every year. Cyclone Aila came on May 25, 2009. It hit the southwestern part of Bangladesh (Khulna Division) and West Bengal in India, affecting more than three million people.
In May 2020, Amphan hit the region again. It was a powerful and catastrophic tropical cyclone that caused widespread damage in Eastern India, specifically in West Bengal and Odisha, and in Bangladesh.
One year later, another Cyclone Yaas appeared on May 26. It occurred during the lunar eclipse, which caused abnormal six-eight feet tidal waves across the coastal districts– Bhola, Patuakhali, Satkhira, Khulna, Bagerhat, Jhalokathi, Barguna, Barisal and Pirojpur– resulting in breached embankments and inundation.
The nation is yet to see what Asani and the new depression bring this time.