Cyclone Mocha, May 10: The Indian Meteorological Department has issued a warning that Cyclone Mocha, currently forming over the Bay of Bengal, is likely to intensify into a very severe storm by Friday, May 12th, with wind speeds potentially reaching 130 kmph.
Formation and Path of Cyclone Mocha
The well-marked low-pressure area, initially identified on May 11th, has since intensified into a depression packing wind speeds of 45 to 55 kmph, with gusts up to 65 kmph over the southeast Bay of Bengal. According to the India Meteorological Department, the weather system is expected to intensify further into a deep depression by 5:30 am on May 12th, with Cyclone Mocha forming within the next 12 hours, packing wind speeds of 80-90 kmph and gusts of up to 100 kmph.
The system is expected to move north-northwestwards initially, until May 12th morning, before later changing direction towards the Bangladesh-Myanmar coasts, according to the weather office.
Impact of Cyclone Mocha
Cyclone Mocha is not expected to affect the Indian coast, but the Andaman and Nicobar Islands administration has alerted people, as the cyclonic circulation over the Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify from late May 11th night.
Most places in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are expected to experience rainfall, with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places from May 9th to 11th. Northeast India is also expected to see heavy rainfall over the weekend due to the impact of Cyclone Mocha.
Tripura and Mizoram are expected to record heavy rainfall at isolated places on May 13th and heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places on May 14th. Nagaland, Manipur, and South Assam will also record heavy rain on Sunday.
Precautionary Measures Advised by IMD
The IMD has advised regulating tourism and offshore activities and shipping near Andaman and Nicobar Islands from May 9th to 12th. It has also recommended regulating shipping activity over the sea areas of the southeast and central Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea from May 9th to 13th.
Assurance from West Bengal CM
West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, has reassured people that the cyclone should not be a cause for concern as the state government is prepared to handle the situation. She stated that if circumstances change, the government would rescue people from coastal areas as the cyclone moves towards Bangladesh and Myanmar.
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Why Cyclone Mocha is Intensifying
According to an IMD official, the tropical cyclone heat potential that provides energy to the cyclone is high near the Myanmar coast. The Bay of Bengal is also considerably warm, with sea surface temperatures of over 30 degrees Celsius over most parts of the ocean. This indicates that conditions are favorable for the intensification of Cyclone Mocha. Most models indicate that it will become a very severe cyclonic storm.
It is essential to take all necessary precautions to ensure the safety of residents in areas expected to be impacted by Cyclone Mocha. The IMD’s warning and advice should be taken seriously, and appropriate measures should be taken to ensure the protection of life and property.
