Which country named cyclone ‘Asna’?

The deep depression that turned into a cyclonic storm is named called “Asna” given by Pakistan Metrological Department. In Urdu, “Asna” means “The One To Be Acknowledged Or Praised.”

This name is from a new list of tropical cyclone names adopted by countries in the WMO/ESCAP Panel in April 2020.

This list is used to name storms over the North Indian Ocean, including the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea.

According to PMD, Cyclonic storms forming in August over the Arabian Sea are rare.

Cyclone Asna is the fourth cyclone to develop in the Arabian Sea in August since 1944. Previous cyclones of this kind occurred in 1944, 1964, and 1976, all of which had their origins over land before becoming cyclonic storms at sea.

In 1976, the cyclone developed over Odisha, moved west-northwestwards, emerged into the Arabian Sea, and weakened near the Oman coast. In 1944, the cyclone intensified after emerging into the Arabian Sea.

In 1964, a short-lived cyclone formed near the South Gujarat coast and weakened near the coast.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) in its fourth alert said that a potential cyclone that had developed over the Rann of Kutch in India has intensified into cyclone Asna.

The cyclone Asna currently lies at around Latitude 23.5 N & Longitude 67.9 E at about 170km south/southeast of Karachi and 88km south of Kati Bandar, the weather department said in its fourth alert.

The system is likely keep moving initially west/northwestwards.

“Under its influence, widespread rain/wind-thunderstorms with scattered heavy/very heavy and isolated extremely heavy falls likely in Karachi division, Tharparker, Badin, Thatta, Sujawal, Hyderabad, T.M Khan, T.A Yar, Matiari, Umerkot, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Jamshoro, Dadu & Shaheed Benazirabad districts till 31 August.”

“Widespread rain/wind-thunderstorm with scattered heavy/very heavy and isolated extremely heavy falls also likely in Hub, Lasbella, Awaran, Keach & Gwadar districts during 30 August to 1st September with occasional gaps,” according to PMD.