A rare meteorological event is unfolding as Cyclone Asna begins to form over the Saurashtra-Kutch region of Gujarat. This marks the first time since 1976 that a cyclone is developing in the Arabian Sea during August, an occurrence that has only been recorded three times in history.

Experts from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) have noted the rarity of such events, emphasizing that the formation of cyclonic storms in the Arabian Sea during August is extremely uncommon. The cyclone is expected to strengthen on August 30 and head towards the coast of Oman.

According to the IMD, the deep depression currently over the Saurashtra and Kutch regions is likely to move west-southwestwards, emerging over the northeast Arabian Sea near Kutch and the adjoining coasts of Pakistan. The depression is forecasted to intensify into a cyclonic storm by Friday.

In an update from the IMD on August 29, it was mentioned, "The deep depression over Kutch and nearby areas of the Northeast Arabian Sea and Pakistan, approximately 90 km west-northwest of Bhuj (Gujarat), is expected to move westward, enter the Northeast Arabian Sea, and intensify into a Cyclonic Storm on August 30. It will continue to move west-southwest over the Northeast Arabian Sea, away from the Indian coast in the next two days."

The cyclone, once fully developed, will be named Cyclone Asna, a designation proposed by Pakistan.

Historically, the last cyclone to develop in August over the Arabian Sea occurred in 1976. That cyclone formed over Odisha, traveled west-northwestwards, and eventually weakened near the Oman coast after making a looping track. Previous cyclones in 1964 and 1944 followed similar patterns, forming near the South Gujarat coast and in the Arabian Sea but weakening before making significant landfall.

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