The word "Asani" derives from Sinhalese, the official language of Sri Lanka, which translates to "wrath".
The cyclone originated as an area of low pressure near the Andaman Islands.Asani, which is moving parallel to the east coast, is expected to weaken over the next 36 hours.
Visakhapatnam is expected to witness moderate to heavy rainfall, alongside winds at a speed of 50-60 kmph.The IMD has advised fishermen against venturing into the sea.