Cyclone Arnab, which formed over the Bay of Bengal, may strengthen into a very severe cyclonic storm and cross the coast of Andhra Pradesh in India on Wednesday (28 October), the Bangladesh Meteorological Department said. At noon on Monday the cyclone was 755 kilometres south of Payra seaport.
The department gave the information in its special bulletin (No 7) on Monday.
In the bulletin, meteorologist Hafizur Rahman said Cyclone Arnab, over the east-central Bay of Bengal and the adjoining west-central Bay, had moved west-northwest and remained over the same area. At 12 noon on Monday its centre was at latitude 15.5 degrees north and longitude 88.3 degrees east.
At that time the cyclone was 840 kilometres southwest of Chattogram seaport, 775 kilometres southwest of Cox’s Bazar seaport, 785 kilometres south of Mongla seaport and 755 kilometres south of Payra seaport.
According to the department’s forecast, the cyclone may move west-northwest and intensify into a severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal by Monday midnight. It may then intensify further into a very severe cyclonic storm and cross the coast of Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday.
The bulletin said the maximum sustained wind speed within 54 kilometres of the cyclone’s centre was 62 kilometres per hour, rising to 88 kilometres per hour in gusts or squalls. The sea near the centre is very rough.
The department has asked the seaports of Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra to keep hoisting distant cautionary signal No 2.
Fishing boats and trawlers in the northern Bay of Bengal have been told to stay close to the coast and move with caution until further notice.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report