Blog

The cyclone is named Mocha (Mokha), a name suggested by Yemen after the Red Sea port city, which is known to have introduced coffee to the world over 500 years ago.

New Delhi: A low pressure area formed over south-east Bay of Bengal on Monday is expected to intensify into a cyclone and likely to move towards the Bangladesh-Myanmar coast later this week, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said, adding that it is expected to make landfall in West Bengal and Odisha this week.

The low pressure area is expected to concentrate into a depression by Tuesday evening and then intensify into a cyclonic storm the next day, Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director General of India Meteorological Department, told reporters.

“The cyclonic storm will move initially north-northwest to central Bay of Bengal till May 11 and then re-curve and move north-northeast towards Bangladesh-Myanmar coast,” Mohapatra said.

He said squally wind speed reaching 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph is likely over southeast Bay of Bengal, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and adjoining Andaman Sea on Tuesday.

IMD’s latest advisory

1. Fishermen, ships, trawlers, and small boats are advised not to venture into the southeast Bay of Bengal.
2.  The weather office also suggested regulation of tourism and offshore activities and shipping near Andaman and Nicobar Islands from May 8 to 12.
3. The weather office has suggested regulation of tourism and offshore activities and shipping near Andaman and Nicobar Islands and over the sea areas of southeast and central Bay of Bengal till Friday.

When will Cyclone Mocha make landfall and where?

According to the weather office, Cyclone Mocha is likely to intensify into a depression on May 9 and turn into a cyclone on May 10. The storm is expected to move towards the Bangladesh and Myanmar coasts around May 12.

Director General of IMD M Mohapatra said, “The time of landfall and expected intensity, as it moves towards the coast, will be available when the low-pressure area intensifies into a depression. We have issued a subjective statement for now, but the specifics will be made available soon as the models provide a clearer picture within a five-day forecast period.”

‘Will rescue people from coastal areas’: CM Mamata Banerjee

“No need to fear the cyclone…If there come different circumstances, we will rescue people from coastal areas as the cyclone will move to Bangladesh and then Myanmar,” said West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Why Cyclone Mocha?

The cyclone is named Mocha (Mokha), a name suggested by Yemen after the Red Sea port city, which is known to have introduced coffee to the world over 500 years ago.

The system of naming cyclones was adopted by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and member countries of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission (ESCAP). According to the WMO, in the Atlantic and in the Southern Hemisphere (Indian Ocean and South Pacific), tropical cyclones receive names in alphabetical order, and women’s and men’s names are alternated, while in the Northern Indian Ocean, the names are listed alphabetically by country and are gender-neutral.

WATCH VIDEO