Cyclone Mocha To Form Over Bay Of Bengal On May 10, Lanfall Likely On May 13-14: IMD DG

The India Meteorological Department has said that circulation over the southeast Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify in depression on Tuesday.

A Kolkata Police personnel monitors vulnerable locations through CCTV footage in preparation for the landfall of Cyclone 'Mocha'at an control room.

Source : PTI

The Director General of India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said that cyclone Mocha will form over Bay of Bengal on May 10 and will intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm. Talking to ANI, Dr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said, "...it will continue to move & intensify gradually into a cyclonic storm by 10th May. It will move towards the central part of Bay of Bengal & by the 12th morning it will be over the central part of East Central Bay of Bengal...We're expecting that it will become a very severe cyclonic storm over central Bay of Bengal & it will change its path from the 12th onwards. It is expected to move towards Bangladesh & Myanmar coast..."

#WATCH | DG IMD, Dr Mrutyunjay Mohapatra gives an update on #CycloneMocha; says, "...it will continue to move & intensify gradually into a cyclonic storm by 10th May. It will move towards the central part of Bay of Bengal & by the 12th morning it will be over the central part of… pic.twitter.com/0W7o7m9mcf

— ANI (@ANI) May 8, 2023

However, the weatherman on Sunday said that there was no immediate threat from Cyclone Mocha, the route of which will be clearer in the next two days, reported PTI. It predicted light to moderate rainfall in several districts across West Bengal due to a rise in humidity level and heat on May 8. "...there is very little possibility of rains caused by the cyclone in the next two days and the picture will be clearer by Tuesday," a met spokesperson said, as quoted by PTI. 

He added that there is no possibility of north Bengal districts coming under the influence of the cyclone as the cyclonic system, if formed, may make landfall finally in the coastal belt of Bangladesh-Myanmar by the end of next week affecting south Bengal. 

This comes as the Met department's recent bulletin stated that a low-pressure area is likely to form on Monday under the influence of a cyclonic circulation that lies over the southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining the south Andaman Sea. 

Yesterday’s cyclonic circulation over southeast BoB lay over southeast BoB & adjn South Andaman Sea at 0830 IST of 7th May. LPA is likely to form over the same region on 8th May. To intensify into a depression over SE BoB around 9th May. To intensify into a cyclonic storm pic.twitter.com/ewICcr7kpC

— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) May 7, 2023

The release added that the cyclonic circulation is likely to intensify into a depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining south Andaman Sea around Tuesday. 

"Thereafter, it is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm while moving nearly northwards towards the central Bay of Bengal and adjoining north Andaman Sea," the IMD bulletin said. 

It further said, "The details of its (possible cyclone) path and intensification will be provided after the formation of the low-pressure area. The system is under constant watch and being monitored regularly." 

Read IMD Release HERE

According to PTI, the weather office has warned fishermen of squally weather in the southeast Bay of Bengal with windspeed reaching 40-50 kmph from Sunday onwards. Those who are over the southeast Bay of Bengal are advised to return to safer places before May 7 and those over the central Bay of Bengal are advised to return before May 9, the weather office said. 

It has also suggested that regulation of tourism and offshore activities and shipping near Andaman and Nicobar Islands between May 8 and 12, as mentioned in the PTI report.  

Meanwhile, a met office spokesperson said, with the maximum temperature in Kolkata slated to rise to 38.4 degrees Celsius along with an 85 per cent humidity level on Monday, there is a possibility of light to moderate rainfall accompanied by lightning in the city, North and South 24 Parganas, Hooghly, Bankura, Birbhum, Purba Medinipur, Howrah, Purba and Paschim Bardhaman. 

He added that light rains are also forecast in the northern part of the state - in the districts of Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Kalimpong, Alipurduar, Coochbehar, Uttar Dinajpur, Dakshin Dinajpur and Malda in the next 24 hours.