Cyclone Arnab may intensify into a severe storm by midnight: BMD

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Cyclonic Storm Arnab is expected to strengthen into a severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal by Monday midnight, according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD).

In a special bulletin issued on Monday morning, the BMD said a deep depression over the east-central Bay of Bengal and adjoining south-east Bay had moved north-westwards and intensified into Cyclonic Storm Arnab.

At 6:00 AM on Monday, the storm was centred near latitude 15.4°N and longitude 89.0°E over the east-central and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal. It was approximately 820km south-west of Chattogram, 745km south-west of Cox’s Bazar, 785km south of Mongla and 745km south of Payra.

The storm is expected to move west-north-westwards and strengthen by midnight. It may then head north-westwards and cross the Andhra Pradesh coast by October 28 as a very severe cyclonic storm, the bulletin said.

Maximum sustained winds near the centre are around 62 kilometres per hour, with gusts or squalls reaching 88 km/h. The sea is expected to remain very rough near the storm’s centre.

The BMD has advised the maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra to hoist distant warning signal No. 2 (R), replacing warning signal No. 1.

Fishing boats and trawlers operating in the North Bay have been advised to remain close to the coast and proceed with caution until further notice.