The cyclonic storm Mocha has started crossing the coastal district of Cox’s Bazar and the neighbouring country Myanmar’s north coast with the speed of up to 215 km per hour (kmph), according to the latest bulletin of Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD). Tariful Newaz Kabir, a meteorologist of the BMD, told UNB that the cyclone has started crossing Cox’s Bazar and “it will completely cross Bangladesh between afternoon and evening today (May 14, 2023).” The speed of wind may increase with time, he added. Read More: Heavy rains may trigger landslides in Cox’s Bazar, Chattogram, 3 hill districts Cyclone Mocha, located over east central Bay and adjoining areas, kept moving north-northeastwards and kept intensifying, the earlier BMD bulletin read. Around 6 am today, the cyclone was located 385 km south-southwest of Chattogram port, 305 km south-southwest of Cox's Bazar port, 450 km south of Mongla port and 370 km south of Payra port, said the BMD bulletin. The coastal districts of Chattogram and Barishal divisions have already started experiencing the peripheral effects of the very severe cyclonic storm in the form of rain, the bulletin reads. Read More: All preparations taken to face cyclone Mocha: PM Hasina BMD said the maximum sustained wind speed near the storm's centre was about 190 kph, rising to 215 kph, in gusts or squalls. Earlier in the morning, Afroza Sultana, an assistant meteorologist of the BMD, told UNB that there is no possibility yet that Cyclone Mocha will turn into a super cyclonic storm. BMD in its update said the coastal districts of Cox's Bazar and Chattogram and the nearby islands and low-lying Char areas may face tidal surges 8 to 12 feet above the normal tide. Read More: Cyclone Mocha may cross Cox’s Bazar between 9am and 3pm today, no possibility of turning into super cyclonic storm: BMD Maritime port 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. On the other hand, the 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 no 10, according to the BMD. Read More: This is how Cyclone Mocha was named, plus all you need to know The coastal districts of Chattogram, Feni, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Chandpur, Barishal, Bhola, Patuakhali, Jhalokathi, Pirojpur, Barguna and their offshore islands and chars will also come under great danger signal 8, the report said. Under the peripheral effect of the cyclone and steep pressure gradient, the low-lying areas of the coastal districts of Cox’s Bazar and Chattogram and their offshore islands and chars are likely to be inundated by the wind driven surge, 8-12 feet above normal tide. The low-lying areas of Feni, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Chandpur, Bhola and their offshore islands and chars are likely to be inundated by wind driven surge, 5-7 feet above normal tide. Read More: Cyclone Preparedness: Safety measures to follow before, during and after disaster Under the effects of Cyclone Mocha, Chattogram, Sylhet and Barishal divisions are likely to experience heavy (44-88mm) to very heavy rainfall. Due to very heavy rainfall, landslide may occur at places in the hilly regions of Cox’s Bazar, Bandarban, Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Chattogram. All fishing boats and trawlers over the north Bay have been advised to remain in shelter till further notice, the bulletin also said.

The cyclonic storm Mocha is likely to cross Cox’s Bazar and North Myanmar between 9am and 3pm today (May 14, 2023), according to the latest bulletin of Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD). Mocha, located over east central Bay and adjoining areas, kept moving north-northeastwards and kept intensifying, it reads. The cyclonic storm 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 bulletin. Read More: Heavy rains may trigger landslides in Cox’s Bazar, Chattogram, 3 hill districts The coastal districts under Chattogram and Barishal divisions have already started experiencing the peripheral effects of the very severe cyclonic storm in the form of rain, it reads. BMD said the maximum sustained wind speed near the storm's centre was about 190 kph, rising to 210 kph, in gusts or squalls. This was up from 180-200 kph in the evening, meaning the storm was still gathering strength. Afroza Sultana, an assistant meteorologist of the BMD, told UNB this morning that there is no possibility yet that Cyclone Mocha will turn into a super cyclonic storm. Read More: All preparations taken to face cyclone Mocha: PM Hasina “We can predict that there is no possibility of Mocha turning into a super cyclone after observing its characteristics so far,” she said. There were some rumours that the cyclone had already turned into a “super cyclone”, but an Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) update pointed out that it is called a super cyclone when the maximum sustained speed crosses 221 km per hour, which is not yet the case. BMD in its update said the coastal districts of Cox's Bazar and Chattogram and the nearby islands and low-lying char areas may face tidal surges 8 to 12 feet above the normal tide. Read More: This is how Cyclone Mocha was named, plus all you need to know Maritime port of Cox's Bazar has been advised to keep hoisted great danger signal 10. Maritime ports of Chattogram and Payra have been advised to keep hoisted great danger signal 8, said the report. On the other hand, the maritime port of Mongla has been advised to keep hoisted local warning signal 4. The coastal districts of Chattogram, Feni, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Chandpur, Barishal, Bhola, Patuakhali, Jhalokathi, Pirojpur, Barguna and their offshore islands and chars will also come under great danger signal 8, the report said. Read More: Mocha shows no sign of weakening; 190-210 kph winds near centre in BMD's midnight update 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 surge, at 5-7 feet above normal tide. Under the effects of Cyclone Mocha, Chattogram, Sylhet and Barishal divisions are likely to experience heavy (44-88mm) to very heavy rainfall. Due to very heavy rainfall, landslide may occur at places in the hilly regions of Cox’s Bazar, Bandarban, Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Chattogram. All fishing boats and trawlers over the north Bay have been advised to remain in shelter till further notice, the bulletin also said. Read More: Cyclone Preparedness: Safety measures to follow before, during and after disaster

The maritime port of Cox’s Bazar has been asked to hoist the great danger signal 10 as very severe cyclonic storm Mocha over east central Bay and adjoining area moved North-Northeastwards over the same area. Cox’s Bazar deputy commissioner Shaheen Imran told UNB that the maritime port of Cox’s Bazar has been asked to hoist great danger signal No 10. Besides, the maritime port of Chattogram has been advised to hoist great danger signal 8 while maritime ports of Mongla and Payra have been advised to hoist local warning signal 4. On Saturday (May 13) morning it was centred about 815 km south-southwest of Chattogram port, 745 km south-southwest of Cox’s Bazar port, 785 km south of Mongla port and 745 km south of Payra port, said the latest Met office bulletin. Also read: Cyclone Mocha likely to cross Cox’s Bazar-Myanmar’s north coast by Sunday evening 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). 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 160 kph, rising to 175 kph, in gusts or squalls. Sea will remain very rough near the storm centre. Read More: Heavy rains may trigger landslides in Cox’s Bazar, Chattogram, 3 hill districts 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 8. 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. Read More: Met office predicts rain or thundershowers in Dhaka, other divisions All fishing boats and trawlers over North Bay have been advised to remain in shelter till further notice.