Cyclone Amphan becomes 'very severe cyclonic storm'
The low-pressure deep depression in the Bay of Bengal, named as Cyclone 'Amphan' has intensified right into a very severe cyclonic storm, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) said in a particular weather bulletin at 9:00pm on Sunday.
The elements agency further said that it would further intensify into an exceptionally severe cyclonic storm during the next 24 hours.
"The Severe Cyclonic Storm 'AMPHAN' over Southeast Bay of Bengal and neighbourhood moved slowly northwards with a speed of 05 kmph during past 6 hours, further intensified into a very extreme cyclonic storm. It is very more likely to intensify further into an exceptionally Severe Cyclonic Storm during next a day," BMD said in its bulletin.
It had been centred at 9:00pm on Sunday about 1,285km south-southwest of Chattogram Port, 1,220km south-southwest of Cox's Bazar Port, 1,210km south-southwest of Mongla Port and 1,190km south-southwest of Payra Port.
Maximum sustained wind speed within 74km of the storm is approximately 110kph rising to 130kph in gusts or squalls.
The cyclone is quite likely to move nearly northwards slowly during next 12 hours and then re-curve north-northeastwards and move fast across the northwest Bay of Bengal and cross West Bengal - Bangladesh coasts between Digha in West Bengal and Hatiya Islands in Bangladesh through the afternoon or evening of May 20 as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm.
The sea condition may very well be very rough and alerts have been issued to all fishing boats and trawlers never to venture in to the deep sea.
Maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Mongla and Payra have already been advised to keep hoisted local warning signal #4 4 (four).
Rainfall is expected for the most part places with heavy to very heavy falls at a few places and intensely heavy falls at isolated places, BMD said.
