Cyclone Mocha Intensifies into Severe Cyclonic Storm, Fishermen Warned to Stay Away

The deep depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal (BoB) intensified into Cyclonic Storm 'Mocha' during the early hours of Thursday, according to the latest update released by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

During the day, fishermen and operators of small ships, boats, and trawlers are urged not to enter into the southeast and adjacent central Bay of Bengal. Mocha was situated around 510 km west-southwest of Port Blair (Andaman-Nicobar), 1210 km south-southwest of Cox's Bazar (Bangladesh), and 1120 km south-southwest of Sittwe (Myanmar) at 5:30 am yesterday.

The Cyclonic Storm travelled north-northwestwards from here and progressively intensified into a Severe Cyclonic Storm (SCS) by midnight yesterday.

Following that, it is expected to recurve and proceed north-northeastwards on Friday morning, intensifying into a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm (VSCS) over Central BoB by Friday evening. It will remain in this state for the next 24 hours, reaching its maximum intensity around Saturday evening.

The IMD classifies a system as a Cyclonic Storm when its 3-minute average maximum sustained wind speeds range from 63 to 88 kmph. A Severe Cyclonic Storm has winds of 89-117 kmph, and a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm has winds of 118-165 kmph.

Mocha will gradually weaken on Sunday morning before making landfall over southeast Bangladesh and north Myanmar- between Cox's Bazar (Bangladesh) and Kyaukpyu (Myanmar)- with an ultimate sustained wind speed of 120-130 kmph, gusting to 145 kmph.

Yemen named Cyclone Mocha (Mokha) for the Red Sea port city that introduced coffee to the globe 500 years ago. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) arrive at Digha, West Bengal. There will be announcements for tourists and fishermen asking them not to go into the sea on May 12 and 13.