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Tropical Cyclone “Mora” about to slam into Bangladesh

cyclone-mora-bangladesh

Tropical Cyclone "Mora" (02B) formed in the Bay of Bengal on May 28, 2017, and is now intensifying on its way toward Bangladesh. The cyclone is expected to make landfall near Chittagong after midnight UTC on May 30 with wind speeds near 120 km/h (75 mph), dangerous storm surge and very heavy rainfall. This is the second named storm of the 2017 North Indian Ocean tropical cyclone season.

A low pressure area formed in the southeast Bay of Bengal on May 26 under the influence of a persistent area of convection and rapidly intensified. Late May 28 (UTC), IMD classified it as Cyclonic Storm "Mora." Under the influence of the precursor low of Mora, it strengthened the arrival of monsoon which caused heavy disaster in Sri Lanka and Andaman islands with at least 180 fatalities.

According to RSMC New Delhi Tropical Storm "Mora" Advisory No. 5, issued 06:00 UTC on May 29, Mora was centered over the east-central Bay of Bengal and has moved at a speed of 11 km/h (6.8 mph) over the past six hours. At 03:00 UTC, its center was located about 660 km (410 miles) south-southeast of Kolkata and 550 km (342 miles) south-southwest of Chittagong.

According to satellite imagery, Mora's maximum surface sustained winds were about 83 km/h (52 mph) with gusts to 102 km/h (63 mph). The estimated central pressure was about 992 hPa.

Tropical Cyclone Mora forecast track by RSMC New Delhi May 29, 2017

The system is likely to intensify further into a Severe Cyclonic Storm during the next 12 hours, the center said. It is very likely to move north-northeastwards and cross Bangladesh coast near Chittagong on May 30 (morning, local time).

A storm surge of about 1 to 1.5 meter (3.3 – 5 feet) above astronomical tide is likely to inundate low-lying areas of Bangladesh coast between Sitakund and Uttar Jari at the time of landfall.

Tropical Cyclone Mora at 03:00 UTC on May 29, 2017

In wake of this tropical storm, Southwest Monsoon is likely to progress further into some parts of southeast Arabian Sea, Maldives area, some more parts of Comorin area, southwest Bay of Bengal and east central Bay of Bengal, remaining parts of southeast Bay of Bengal and some parts of west central and northeast Bay of Bengal during next 24 hours, SkymetWeather meteorologists said.

"With westerly winds are also strengthening and likely northward shift of the shear zone, Southwest Monsoon will make onset over Kerala and parts of northeastern states during the next 24 – 48 hours," they added.

Featured image credit: NASA Aqua/MODIS. Acquired May 28, 2017.

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One Comment

  1. super sensitive to full moon and atmospheric conditions. Know very little about weather, except that weather people on television appear to have the best job in the world. Word usage,free clothes, people like to be seen with them, good pay. They are seldom correct! I do not believe in luck or coincidence. It just feels after 70 years of living that September is going to be a very interesting month in the weather world.

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