The sea has turned rough due to the impact of Cyclone Montha formed over the Bay of Bengal. In this situation, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has advised all maritime ports — Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla, and Payra — to keep Signal No. 2 (distant cautionary signal) hoisted.
According to a special weather bulletin (No. 6) issued on Monday (October 27), the cyclone is likely to make landfall along India’s Andhra Pradesh coast on Tuesday (October 28) evening.
The Met Office reported that Cyclone Montha is currently located over the southwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal, near latitude 12.8°N and longitude 84.8°E.
At 12 noon, it was about 1,300 km southwest of Chattogram Port, 1,245 km southwest of Cox’s Bazar, 1,200 km southwest of Mongla, and 1,190 km southwest of Payra Port.
Within 54 km of the cyclone’s center, the maximum sustained wind speed is 62 km per hour, which increases up to 88 km per hour in gusts or squalls. The sea near the cyclone center is reported to be very rough.
The Met Office further stated that the system is expected to move further north-northwestward and intensify, before crossing the Andhra Pradesh coast by Tuesday evening or night.
All fishing boats and trawlers in the North Bay have been advised to stay close to the coast and not venture into the deep sea until further notice, and to navigate with caution.