Weather Officials Warn of Impending 'Extremely Severe' Cyclone Mocha in Bangladesh and Myanmar

According to reports, Cyclone Mocha is expected to make landfall on May 14 as a very severe cyclonic storm, crossing the Southeast Bangladesh and North Myanmar coasts between Cox's Bazar and Kyaukpyu, near Sittwe in Myanmar.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the very severe cyclonic storm, Mocha, has moved towards the north-northeast with a speed of 8 kmph in the last six hours and was situated over the East Central Bay of Bengal in the early hours of Saturday.

Mocha to Hit Southeast Bangladesh and North Myanmar as Very Severe Cyclonic Storm on May 14th

The Met office predicts that it is expected to cross Southeast Bangladesh and North Myanmar coasts between Cox's Bazar and Kyaukpyu, close to Sittwe in Myanmar, on May 14th around noon as a very severe cyclonic storm, with a maximum sustained wind speed of 150-160 km/hr, gusting to 175 km/hr.

The weather system is being continuously monitored and observed by authorities.

As Cyclone Mocha approaches the coasts of Bangladesh and Myanmar, fishermen have been cautioned not to venture into the deep sea of the North Bay of Bengal from May 12 to May 14.

Statement by IMD

"Due to the presence of a very severe cyclonic storm over the Central Bay of Bengal and its movement towards Bangladesh and Myanmar coast, fishermen are advised not to venture into the deep sea of North Bay of Bengal during the period between May 12 and May 14, 2023," the IMD said.

India on Alert as Cyclone Mocha Approaches, Several States Brace for Heavy Rainfall

Authorities in northeastern states, eastern India, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have been put on high alert as Cyclone Mocha approaches the coasts of Bangladesh and Myanmar. The India Meteorological Department has predicted heavy rainfall for Tripura and Mizoram starting from Saturday, while Nagaland, Manipur, and south Assam may experience isolated showers on Sunday.

Kerala, Odisha, and Karnataka are also expected to receive moderate rainfall with thunderstorms. In West Bengal's Digha, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been deployed to monitor the situation, and emergency operation centers are working 24/7 to manage any potential natural calamities.

Cyclone 'Mocha' Named by Yemen in North Indian Ocean

The naming of tropical cyclones in the North Indian Ocean is done by a group of 13 countries in the region. Each country submits a list of names, and the cyclones are named sequentially from the list. This is done to avoid confusion and to make it easier for people to follow updates on a particular cyclone. Cyclone Mocha was named by Yemen, and it is named after a small fishing village in the country that is known for its coffee production.