Cyclone Mocha turns severe, likely to intensify into very severe cyclonic storm in 6 hours

Cyclonic storm ‘Mocha’ intensified into a severe cyclonic storm and is very likely to turn into a very severe cyclonic storm over the Central Bay of Bengal in the next six hours, India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

The IMD shared the update on the formation of the cyclonic storm and tweeted, “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.”

Heavy rainfall is likely in several parts as the cyclonic storm is moving north at a speed of 7km per hour. The cyclonic storm is most likely to touch the coast between Bangladesh and Myanmar on May 14th morning. The Maximum wind speed at the time of landfall will be 175 kmph, reports said.

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. pic.twitter.com/RUHLs9MFSx

— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) May 11, 2023

Earlier, the IMD had predicted that after intensifying into a severe cyclonic storm, the system would recurve gradually, move northeastwards and weaken slightly from May 13, and cross southeast Bangladesh and north Myanmar coasts between Cox’s Bazar (Bangladesh) and Kyaukpyu (Myanmar) around forenoon of May 14, 2023.