The deep depression in the Bay of Bengal has intensified into cyclonic storm ‘Phethai’ triggering distant cautionary signal 2 for the maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Mongla and Payra.
The cyclonic storm over the southeast Bay has moved north-westwards further over the same area and was centred about 1,495km southwest of Chattogram port, 1,440km southwest of Cox’s Bazar port, 1,385km southwest of Mongla port and 1,380km southwest of Payra port at 6am on Sunday, according to special weather bulletin published by Bangladesh Meteorological Department.
“It is likely to intensify further and move in a north-northwesterly direction,” it says.
Maximum sustained wind speed within 54 km of the cyclone centre is about 62 km per hour, rising to 88 kmph gusts and squalls. Sea will remain very rough near the eye of the storm, according to the met office.
All fishing boats and trawlers in the north Bay have been advised to keep close to the coast and proceed with caution till further notice. They are also advised not to venture into the deep sea.
‘Phethai’ may become a severe cyclonic storm with eventual impacts to eastern India into early next week, reports AccuWeather.
The warm waters of the Bay of Bengal are anticipated to cause the cyclonic storm to strengthen further this weekend, potentially into a severe cyclonic storm by the second half of the weekend, its said.
"As the storm strengthens, seas will build across the southern Bay of Bengal and become increasingly dangerous for boaters this weekend," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski.
The cyclone may lose some wind intensity and weaken, though it may still be a cyclonic storm as it moves onshore on Monday. It can still deliver rain and thunderstorms and the risk for flooding and mudslides to parts of eastern India, says the news outlet which specialises on the weather forecast.
It said rainfall may also increase across West Bengal, northeastern India and Bangladesh later Monday into Tuesday, which includes Kolkata and Dhaka.