Cyclone Mocha: The system is likely to move north-northeastwards and intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm during the next few hours over Central Bay of Bengal, packing winds of up to 135 kmph, according to the weather office. It is likely to move towards the Bangladesh-Myanmar coast.
Photo : PTI
Severe cyclonic storm ‘Mocha’ intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm on Friday and is set to head to the Bangladesh-Myanmar coast, the Indian Meteorological Department said on Thursday night. “The SCS “Mocha” lay centered at 0230 hours IST of 12th May 2023 over Southeast adjoining Central Bay of Bengal about 520 km west-northwest of Port Blair.
The system is likely to move north-northeastwards and intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm during the next few hours over Central Bay of Bengal, packing winds of up to 135 kmph, according to the weather office. It is likely to move towards the Bangladesh-Myanmar coast.
- The IMD said Cyclone Mocha (pronounced Mokha), named by Yemen after its Red Sea port city, will further intensify on Friday and re-curve north-northeastwards for a Sunday landfall between Cox’s Bazaar and Kyaukpyu, close to port city Sittwe in Myanmar, packing winds of 175 kmph. “It is likely to continue to move north-northeastwards with further intensification. It is likely to cross southeast Bangladesh and north Myanmar coasts between Cox’s Bazar (Bangladesh) and Kyaukpyu (Myanmar), close to Sittwe (Myanmar) around noon of 14th May, 2023 as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm with maximum sustained wind speed of 150-160 kmph gusting to 175 kmph,” the IMD said.
- Fishermen, ships, boats and trawlers have been advised not to venture into central and northeast Bay of Bengal and north Andaman Sea till Sunday.
- Those sailing in central Bay of Bengal and north Andaman Sea are advised to return to coast.
- Due to the weather conditions, heavy rainfall is likely to lash Tripura and Mizoram Saturday onwards. Nagaland, Manipur and south Assam are expected to get rainfall at many places on Sunday.