C T Online Desk: By Shakhawat Hossain Sabbir, Special Correspondent, Feni : Cyclone ‘Montha’ over the west-central Bay of Bengal has intensified into a severe cyclonic storm, with wind speeds continuing to rise, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) said in its latest special weather bulletin on Tuesday.
According to the BMD’s 9th special bulletin signed by meteorologist Dr Md Omar Faruq, the storm was centered at 14.6°N latitude and 83.0°E longitude, over the west-central Bay and adjoining southwest Bay, early Tuesday morning.
At 6:00am, the cyclone was located about 1,290 km southwest of Chattogram port, 1,250 km southwest of Cox’s Bazar port, 1,140 km southwest of Mongla port, and 1,155 km southwest of Payra port.
“Montha” is moving north-northwestward and is likely to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast of India by Tuesday evening or night, the bulletin added.
Within 64 km of the cyclone’s center, the maximum sustained wind speed has been recorded at 90 km per hour, rising to 110 km per hour in gusts and squalls. The sea remains very rough near the cyclone center.
Authorities have advised Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla, and Payra sea ports to hoist distant cautionary signal No. 2.
Meanwhile, fishing boats and trawlers in the north Bay of Bengal have been instructed to remain close to the coast and avoid deep-sea ventures until further notice.
Meteorologists continue to monitor the storm’s movement closely as it may influence coastal weather conditions in Bangladesh over the next few days.
