By: Isuru Parakrama
Colombo (LNW): The deep depression over the southwest Bay of Bengal has intensified into the cyclonic storm “Mocha” and it laid centred near 11.2°N and 88.1°E at 05.30 a.m. today (11), the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology said in a new warning issued today (11).
The depression is very likely to move north-northwestwards and gradually intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by midnight today, and thereafter expected to recurve gradually from north-northwestwards from Friday (12) morning and intensify further into a very severe cyclonic storm around Friday evening over the central Bay of Bengal, the advisory issued by the Centre said.
The system is likely to weaken slightly from May 14 and cross southeast Bangladesh and north Myanmar coasts around the forenoon of May 14, the statement added, warning that the due to this occurrence, wind speeds will be (50-60) kmph and can increase up to 70-80 kmph in sea areas bounded by 03N – 20N and 85E – 100E during the next 24 hours.
The situation may worsen with heavy showers or thundershowers, and very rough sees can be expected in the sea areas, it added.
