Powerful Mocha likely to hit Bangladesh

Cyclonic storm Mocha formed over the Bay of Bengal is becoming powerful and likely to hit Bangladesh.

After reviewing various weather reports of the USA, Mostafa Kamal Palash, a weather and climate researcher at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada, in his facebook, made the prediction.

Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) issued a bulletin in this regard on Friday (May 12) as Cyclone Mocha is approaching the southeastern coast of Bangladesh.

According to the bulleting, all fishing boats and trawlers over the North Bay of Bengal have been advised to take shelter immediately.

Cyclone Mocha is expected to make landfall on Sunday with wind speeds of up to 160kph and gusts up to 175kph (110mph) between Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh and Kyaukpyu in Myanmar, India's Meteorological Department said.

The coastal districts of Cox’s Bazar, Chittagong, Feni, Noakhali, Lakshmipur, Chandpur, Barisal, Bhola, Patuakhali, Jhalokathi, Pirojpur, Barguna, and their offshore islands and chars will come under great danger signal no 8.

Under the peripheral effect of the cyclone and steep pressure gradient, the low-lying areas of the coastal districts of Cox’s Bazar and Chittagong and their offshore islands and chars are likely to be inundated by the wind-driven surge height of 8-12 feet above normal astronomical tide.

Under the peripheral effect of the cyclone and steep pressure gradient, the low-lying areas of the coastal districts of Feni, Noakhali, Lakshmipur, Chandpur, Barisal, Bhola, Patuakhali, Jhalokathi, Pirojpur, Barguna, and their offshore islands and chars are likely to be inundated by the wind-driven surge height of 5-7 feet above normal astronomical tide.