Cyclone ‘Midhili’ likely to hit Bangladesh coasts on Friday afternoon

The deep depression formed over the northwest bay is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm, named "Midhili", and hit the Bangladesh coast after noon today, says the Met Office. 

"The deep depression this time is not very strong. It could hit the coast any time from noon to evening Friday. There is a possibility that it may weaken before hitting the coast," Meteorologist Md Bazlur Rashid of the Bangladesh Meteorological Department told The Business Standard on Thursday.

He added that if the depression turns into a cyclone, it will have wind speeds of 65 to 90 km/h.

The name Midhili was proposed by the Maldives. It is anticipated to hit the Bangladesh coast between Khepupara and Mongla.

In a special weather bulletin on Thursday night, the Met Office said, "Under the peripheral effect of the deep depression, heavy (44-88mm) to very heavy (more than 89mm) rainfall with gusty wind may occur over north bay, their offshore islands, chars and coastal areas of Bangladesh."

Maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Mongla and Payra have been advised to keep hoisted local cautionary signal 3.

All fishing boats and trawlers over north bay and deep sea have been advised to remain in shelter till further notice.

State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Enamur Rahman, while briefing reporters after a meeting of the Cyclone Preparedness Programme Implementation Board at the Secretariat on Thursday evening, said, "Analysing the progress [of the deep depression], we expect it to hit coastal areas between 12pm and 6pm Friday as a cyclonic storm."

He added that around 11 districts of the coastal region of the country are likely to be affected.

The districts are – Barguna, Patuakhali, Pirojpur, Bhola, Noakhali, Lakshmipur, Feni, Satkhira, Khulna, Bagerhat and Chattogram.

However, Meteorologist Mostofa Kamal Polash, a PhD researcher on meteorology and climate at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada, said Cyclone Midhili is likely to cross the Bangladesh coast between Friday morning and noon, rather than after Friday afternoon.

The low pressure over the Bay of Bengal has intensified into a deep depression today Thursday morning. The depression which is likely to turn into Cyclone Midhili is likely to hit the coast of Khulna and Barishal divisions between 6am and 6pm on Friday.

Analyzing the images obtained from Japan's artificial geosatellite at 11:45pm Bangladesh time on Thursday, it appears that the outer rainbands caused by the deep depression in the Bay of Bengal have started to cross the coast of Bangladesh. The rain that has started over the coastal areas of Bangladesh is likely to continue till next Saturday morning.