Cyclone Mocha, located over east central Bay and adjoining areas, kept moving north-northeastwards and kept intensifying between the Bangladesh Meteorological Department or BMD’s evening and midnight updates on Saturday. The weather system was located at 490 km south-southwest of Chattogram port, 410 km south-southwest of Cox's Bazar port, 530 km south of Mongla port and 460 km south of Payra port, said the BMD in its special update issued at 12am Saturday night (0000 hrs Sunday). In BMD’s previous update at 6pm Saturday, the storm was located 605 km south-southwest of Chattogram port, 525 km south-southwest of Cox's Bazar port, 625 km south of Mongla port and 565 km south of Payra port. Read More: Great danger signal No 10 issued for Cox’s Bazar maritime port as cyclone Mocha approaches It is likely to intensify further, keep moving in a north-northeasterly direction and likely cross the Cox's Bazar-north Myanmar coast anytime between 9am to 3pm on Sunday, May 14 (tomorrow) it said. In this case, BMD’s midnight update did shorten the window for it to make landfall, as earlier it had said 9am-6p Sunday in the evening update.  It also said the coastal districts of Chattogram and Barishal divisions had started experiencing the peripheral effects of the very severe cyclonic storm in the form of rain. BMD said the maximum sustained wind speed near the storm's centre was about 190 kph rising to 210 kph in gusts/squalls. This was up from 180-200 kph in the evening update, meaning the storm was still gathering strength. Read More: Heavy rains may trigger landslides in Cox’s Bazar, Chattogram, 3 hill districts There were some rumours that the system had already turned into a ‘super cyclone’, but an Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) update pointed out that the system is called a super cyclone when the maximum sustained speed crosses 221 km per hour - which is not yet the case, although it may still happen overnight.  An IMD official told Kolkata-based The Telegraph that “whether it technically crosses the super cyclone threshold or not, the devastation will be significant.” BMD in its update said the coastal districts of Cox's Bazar and Chittagong and the nearby islands and low-lying Char areas face tidal surges 8 to 12 feet above the normal tide. Read More: All preparations taken to face cyclone Mocha: PM Hasina Maritime ports of Cox's Bazar has been advised to keep hoisted great danger signal no. 10. Maritime ports of Chattogram and Payra have been advised to keep hoisted great danger signal no. 8, said the report. The low-lying areas of the coastal districts of Feni, Noakhali. Laxmipur, Chandpur. Bhola and their offshore islands and chars are likely to be inundated by the wind driven tidal surges 05-07 feet above normal astronomical tide. Maritime port of Mongla has been advised to keep hoisted local warning signal no 4. The coastal district of Cox's Bazar and its offshore islands and chars will come under great danger signal 10, it also said. Read More: This is how Cyclone Mocha was named, plus all you need to know Chattogram, Sylhet and Barishal divisions are likely to experience heavy (44-88 mm) to very heavy rainfall (89 mm and above). Due to the very heavy rainfall, landslides may occur at places over the hilly regions of Cox's Bazar, Bandarban, Rangamati, Khagrachari and Chattogram.  All fishing boats and trawlers over north bay have been advised to remain in shelter till further notice, the bulletin also said.

Very severe cyclonic storm Mocha over east central Bay and adjoining area moved North-Northeastwards and intensified further over the same area. It is likely to intensify further,  move in a north-northwesterly direction and cross Cox’s Bazar-North Myanmar’s coast between 6 am to 6 pm on Sunday (May 14), according to Bangladesh Metrological Department. The maritime port of Cox’s Bazar has been asked to hoist great danger signal 10, it said. Besides, the maritime ports of Chattogram  and Payra have been advised to hoist great danger signal 8 while maritime port of Mongla has been advised to hoist local warning signal 4. Also read: Cyclone Mocha: Maritime ports asked to hoist great danger signal 8 It was centred about 605 km south-southwest of Chattogram port, 525 km south-southwest of Cox’s Bazar port, 625 km south of Mongla port and 565 km south of Payra port around 6 pm on Saturday, said the latest Met office bulletin. Coastal regions of Chattogram and Barishal divisions will experience the peripheral effect of the very severe cyclonic storm by Saturday night, said the bulletin. Maximum sustained wind speed within 74 km of the very severe cyclone centre is about 170 kph, rising to 190 kph, in gusts or squalls. Sea will remain very rough near the storm centre. Read More: Cox's Bazar Airport to be closed from Saturday 7am to Sunday 7pm The coastal districts of Cox’s Bazar, Chattogram, Feni, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Chandpur, Bhola and their offshore islands and chars will come under great danger signal no 10.     Under the peripheral effect of very cyclone and steep pressure gradient, the low-lying areas of the coastal districts of Cox’s Bazar and Chattogram and their offshore island and chars are likely to be inundated by the wind driven surge height of 8-12 feet above normal astronomical tide. The low-lying areas of the coastal districts of Feni, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Chandpur, Bhola and their offshore island and chars are likely to be inundated by the wind driven surge height of 5-7 feet above normal astronomical tide. Under the effect of very severe cyclone, Chattogram, Sylhet and Barishal divisions are likely to experience  heavy to very heavy rainfall. Due to very heavy rainfall landslide may occur a places over the hilly regions of Cox’s Bazar, Bandarbans, Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Chattogram. All fishing boats and trawlers over North Bay have been advised to remain in shelter till further notice.

Local administration has kept 409 cyclone centres prepared for sheltering 2,73,850 people as a deep depression over the Bay turned into Cyclonic storm ‘Mocha’and it is likely to cross Bangladesh on May 14. Khandaker Yeasir Arefin, deputy commissioner of Khulna, said the government has opened 409 cyclone shelters in the district so that people can take shelter if needed. He said a meeting of the disaster management committee will be held at 3:30 pm today (May 11, 2023). Abdul Karim, district relief and rehabilitation officer, said the upazila level officials were asked to remain in their respective workplaces and take precautionary measures. Read More: Cyclone Mocha: 446 cyclone shelters ready as panic grips Bagerhat’s coastal areas They were also asked to take steps to inform people about the danger signal through loudspeakers. Amirul Azad, in-charge of Khulna Weather Observatory Centre, said due to the impact of  cyclone ‘Mocha’ heavy rains accompanied by gusty wind may lash the district on May 13. However, unless the direction is changed, there is no possibility of the cyclone hitting the Khulna coast,  he said. Regarding cyclone preparations, state minister for Disaster Management and Relief Enamur Rahman on Wednesday said , "We are acting in accordance with the SOD (Standing Orders on Disasters). I have communicated with field personnel. The forecast indicates that Cox's Bazaar is the most vulnerable. Most at risk are the low-lying areas of St. Martin Island and Teknaf.” Read More: Cyclone Mocha looms over Bay: DAE asks farmers to harvest paddy, other crops early Enamur Rahman said the authorities will start moving people to cyclone shelters if  the cyclone danger signal reaches 5, 6 or 7. The state minister said the army, the navy and the coastguard are also ready. "We hope to bring down the loss of life and property to zero (if it strikes)," he said.