Bhubaneswar: The Very Severe Cyclonic Storm “Mocha” (pronounced as “Mokha”) over Central Bay of Bengal (BoB) moved nearly north-northeastwards with a speed of 12 kmph during past 06 hours and lay centered at 1730 hours IST of today, the 12th May 2023 over the same region near latitude 14.6°N and longitude 88.6°E, about 550 km northwest of Port Blair, 730 km south-southwest of Cox’s Bazar (Bangladesh) and 760 km southwest of Sittwe (Myanmar), the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.
The IMD said that it is very likely to move north-northeastwards and intensify further into an Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm over Eastcentral Bay of Bengal during night of today, the 12th May 2023.
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 14th May, 2023 as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm with maximum sustained wind speed of 150-160 kmph gusting to 175 kmph, the IMD added.
- a) Warning for Fishermen for deep sea areas of Bay of Bengal:
Under influence of the system, winds and sea condition in different areas of Bay of Bengal as follows:
❖ North Andaman Sea: Squally wind speed reaching 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph is likely to prevail over North Andaman Sea on 12th May and 45-55 kmph gusting 65 kmph on 13th May.
❖ Southeast Bay of Bengal: Gale wind speed reaching 115-125 kmph gusting to 145 kmph is prevailing and likely to continue till evening and decrease thereafter becoming squally wind speed reaching 55-65 kmph gusting to 75 kmph on 13th May.
❖ Adjoining areas of southwest Bay of Bengal: Squally wind speed reaching 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph is likely to prevail till 13th May morning.
❖ Eastcentral Bay of Bengal: Gale wind speed reaching 140-150 kmph gusting to 165 kmph is prevailing over the region. It is very likely to increase becoming 180-190 kmph gusting to 210 kmph till 13th May evening and gradually decrease thereafter.
❖ Westcentral Bay of Bengal: Gale wind speed reaching 140-150 kmph gusting to 165 kmph is prevailing over the region and likely to become 150-160 kmph gusting to 185 kmph over southeastern sector of the region till 13th May morning. It will decrease gradually becoming 90-100 kmph gusting to 110 kmph by 13th May evening and significantly decrease thereafter.
❖ Northeast Bay of Bengal: Squally wind speed reaching 55-65 kmph gusting to 75 kmph is prevailing and likely to become gale wind speed reaching 70-80 gusting to 90 kmph from 13th May morning. It would gradually increase becoming 180-190 kmph gusting 210 kmph from 13th evening till 14th May morning. It is likely to decrease thereafter to 150-16 kmph gusting to 175 kmph at the time of landfall. It is likely to decrease rapidly after the landfall.
❖ Adjoining areas of Northwest Bay of Bengal: Gale wind speed reaching 60-70 kmph gusting to 80 kmph is likely to prevail over southeast sector of the region and 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph over the remaining areas of northwest Bay of Bengal from 13th May to 14th May forenoon and decrease gradually thereafter.
Sea Conditions:
❖ Andaman Sea:
Very rough to rough over north Andaman Sea during 12th-13th May.
❖ Southeast Bay of Bengal:
Very high to phenomenal sea condition is likely to prevail on 12th May.
Very rough to rough on 13th May.
❖ Eastcentral Bay of Bengal:
Very High to phenomenal sea condition is prevailing and would continue to be phenomenal till 14th May morning. It will improve gradually thereafter.
❖ Adjoining areas of Westcentral Bay of Bengal:
Very high to phenomenal sea condition is prevailing and would continue to be phenomenal till 13th May morning. It will gradually improve thereafter.
❖ Northeast Bay of Bengal:
Rough to very rough on 12th May. It would become very rough to high till 13th May evening and very high to phenomenal till 14th May afternoon.
❖ Adjoining areas of Northwest Bay of Bengal: Rough to very rough during 13th-14th May.
Fishermen Warning
❖ Fishermen, ships, boats and trawlers are advised not to venture into southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining Andaman Sea till 13th May, central Bay of Bengal and north Andaman Sea till 14th May, and into northeast and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal during 12th-14th May, 2023.
- b) Port Warning: Keep Hoisted Distant Warning Signal No-2 (DW-2) at all ports of Odisha. c)Information for tourist and travellers for Andaman and Nicobar Islands: Regulation of tourism and offshore activities and shipping near Andaman & Nicobar Islands till 13th May.
The system is under continuous surveillance, the IMD further said.
