Cyclone Mocha turns into very severe cyclonic storm; wind speed of 150-160 kmph likely

The severe cyclonic storm 'Mocha' (pronounced as “Mokha”) over Southeast adjoining Central Bay of Bengal has intensified into a ‘Very Severe Cyclonic Storm’, informed India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Friday.

Expected Landfall

As per IMD, Cyclone Mocha is very likely to move north-northeastwards and intensify further over Eastcentral Bay of Bengal.

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 May 14, 2023 as a very severe cyclonic storm with maximum sustained wind speed of 150-160 kmph gusting to 175 kmph.

Warning for fishermen for deep sea areas of Bay of Bengal

North Andaman Sea: Squally wind speed reaching 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph is likely to prevail over North Andaman Sea on May 12. Southeast Bay of Bengal: Gale wind speed reaching 115-125 kmph gusting to 135 kmph is prevailing and is likely to continue till evening and decrease thereafter becoming squally wind speed reaching 55-65 kmph gusting to 75 kmph on May 13.

Adjoining areas of southwest Bay of Bengal: Squally wind speed reaching 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph is likely to prevail during next 24 hours and decrease thereafter.

Eastcentral Bay of Bengal: Gale wind speed reaching 115-125 kmph gusting to 135 kmph is prevailing over the region. It is likely to increase becoming Gale wind speed reaching 140-150 kmph gusting to 165 kmph from May 12 evening and increase further becoming 150-160 kmph gusting to 175 kmph till 14th May morning and gradually decrease thereafter.

Northeast Bay of Bengal: Squally wind speed reaching 55-65 kmph gusting to 75 kmph is likely from forenoon of May 12 becoming 70-80 gusting to 90 kmph from May 12 evening.

Gale wind speed reaching 90-100 kmph gusting to 110 kmph is likely to commence from May 13 morning and gradually increase and becoming 150-160 kmph gusting 175 kmph from 13th evening till May 14 noon. It is likely to decrease rapidly after the landfall.