Muscat: Tropical Storm Asna, named by Pakistan, is now a formidable force in the Arabian Sea. With wind speeds ranging from 34 to 40 knots, the storm’s centre is positioned approximately 920 km from the nearest coast and 760 km from the accompanying withdrawal area. The system is currently tracking westward towards the Sea of Oman, with coordinates placing it at a latitude of 23.4 North and a longitude of 68.4 East.

The probability of Asna progressing further is considered medium, with the storm potentially strengthening as it moves across the warm waters. The name “Asna,” meaning “The One To Be Acknowledged Or Praised” in Urdu, was selected as part of a new cyclone naming list adopted by the WMO/ESCAP Panel in April 2020 for the North Indian Ocean region.

Historically, this storm is notable not only for its August formation but also for being just the fourth instance in 80 years of a land-based deep depression evolving into a cyclone over the Arabian Sea. Previous occurrences were recorded in 1944, 1964, and 1976.