The New Nation - Internet Edition

Shahidul Islam

The tropical storm Nargis brewing over southeast Bay has intensified into a severe cyclone yesterday and is moving in a northerly direction and is likely to hit the Teknaf-Akyab coast anytime by this afternoon to tomorrow evening, a senior official of the Met Office said last night.

Earlier yesterday, foreign news agencies reported that the Cyclone Nargis might hit Bangladesh-India coast, while our Chittagong Correspondent, in his dispatch, yesterday afternoon said Nargis might grow stronger than SIDR, and cross Myanmar if its track remains unchanged.

Though the initially predicted track of the hurricane Nargis passes towards Akyab coast in Myanmar slightly down the coastline of Cox's Bazar, it may change direction anytime and take toll on the country's southwestern coast.

Meanwhile, the Met Office advised farmers yesterday evening to take measures for early harvest of Boro paddy before the cyclonic storm hits the coast, if possible. The tropical storm was centred about 1,170km southwest of Chittagong Port, 1,100km southwest of Cox's Bazar Port and 1,050km south-southwest of Mongla Port at 6:00pm yesterday, said the latest Met forecast.

Maximum sustained wind speed within 64kms of the storm centre is about 90kph, rising to 115kph in gusts or squalls. "Sea will remain very rough over North Bay and high near the eye of the cyclone."

Maritime ports of Chittagong, Cox's Bazar and Mongla have been advised to keep hoisted distant warning signal number two.

All fishing-boats and trawlers over North Bay have been advised to remain close to the coast and "proceed with caution till further notice." They are also advised not to venture into the deep sea.

Satellite image pointed the hurricane's core at 13.8 degrees (north) longitude and 85.5 degrees (east) latitude until yesterday afternoon.

Meteorological researchers predicted that the hurricane would continue to gain strength and acquire intensity of super cyclone SIDR that hit the country's southern and south-western coast, including the Sundarbans on November 15 last year and left a large trail of destruction.

"Favourable temperature on the sea-surface, drastic fall of air pressure at the core of the hurricane and upper air speed and direction are catalysing the hurricane to grow stronger," senior meteorologist in the port city Shamsuddin Ahmed told The New Nation yesterday afternoon.

The northwest Bay and its periphery have already turned extremely rough. All fishing boats and trawlers had been advised to stay near the coast and proceed with caution until further announcement.

Majority of the country's costal belts and central parts may experience unusually hot and sultry weather, the atmospheric consequence of the hurricane Nargis, until disappearance of the hurricane.

Earlier on Monday, Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), in a press release, said the Cyclone Nargis could cross the Bangladesh coast within four to five days and affect the coastal areas of the country.

The depression over the southwest and adjoining southeast parts of the Bay of Bengal turned into a cyclonic storm on Sunday evening.

The cyclone might intensify gradually and move in a northerly direction towards the Bangladesh-India coast.