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A deep depression over the east-central Bay of Bengal and adjoining southeast Bay has intensified into Cyclone Arnab after moving northwest, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) said.
In a special bulletin issued on Monday, the BMD said the cyclone was positioned over the east-central Bay of Bengal and adjoining west-central Bay.
Bangladesh proposed the name Arnab, which means “sea” or “ocean”. Thirteen countries in the North Indian Ocean region under the World Meteorological Organisation participate in the naming process: Bangladesh, India, Iran, the Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
At 6am on Monday, the cyclone was located 820 kilometres south of Chattogram port, 745 kilometres south of Cox’s Bazar port, 785 kilometres south of Mongla port and 745 kilometres south of Payra port, according to the BMD.
The storm is expected to move west-northwest and may intensify into a severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay by midnight on Monday. It could then move northwest and cross the coast of India’s Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday as a very severe cyclonic storm.
The BMD said sustained winds near the cyclone’s centre were reaching up to 62 kilometres per hour, with gusts of up to 88 kilometres per hour within a 54-kilometre radius.
The sea remains very rough near the cyclone’s centre. The BMD has advised Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra ports to hoist local cautionary signal No. 2.
Fishing boats and trawlers in the northern Bay of Bengal have been advised to remain close to the coast and proceed with caution until further notice.