Ports raise cautionary signal 3 as deep depression forms over Bay

The depression is likely to intensify further in the next few days and weaken after causing rain and thunder showers, a meteorologist says

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has advised the maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra to hoist local cautionary signal No. 3 as the depression over the west-central Bay of Bengal and adjoining area intensified into a deep depression.

The Met Office predicted squally weather and light to moderate rain over the north Bay under the influence of the deep depression in its special bulletin issued on Monday.

The depression is likely to intensify further in the next few days and become weaker after causing rain and thundershowers, meteorologist Toriful Newaz Kabir said.

The cyclones in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal are named by the World Meteorological Organisation's regional cyclone agency ESCAP. The storm which recently originated in the Arabian Sea has been named Tej.

If the deep depression intensifies into a cyclone over the west-central Bay and adjoining areas, it will be named 'Hamun', a name given by Iran. Cyclone Mocha hit the Cox’s Bazar and Myanmar coast in the region in May.

The Met Office said the deep depression over the west-central Bay and adjoining area moved slightly north-northwestwards and now lies over the same area. It was centred about 755 km west-southwest of Chattogram port, 710 km west-southwest of Cox’s Bazar port, 630 km southwest of Mongla port and 630 km southwest of Payra port at noon.

Maximum sustained wind speed within 48 km of the deep depression centre was about 50 kph, rising to 60 kph in gusts or squalls, the Met Office said.

The authorities advised the maritime ports to lower distant cautionary signal No. 1 and instead hoist local cautionary signal No. 3 as the sea will remain rough near the centre.

All fishing boats and trawlers over North Bay and deep sea have been advised to remain close to the coast so that they can take shelter within very short notice. They have also been advised not to venture into the deep sea.