Cyclones that form near coasts are usually less intense: Former BMD director
He also said the exact time Cyclone Hamoon makes landfall will also determine how much damage it will cause
As the cyclonic storm "Hamoon" turned into a Severe Cyclonic Storm and might cross Barishal-Chattogram coasts near Bhola by sometime between tomorrow morning and noon, the impact might not be intense, said Shah Alam, former director of the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), today.
"However, cyclones are always unpredictable, and it is hard to predict whether it will get more intense or not," he said speaking to The Business Standard on Tuesday (24 October).
He also said the exact time Cyclone Hamoon makes landfall will also determine how much damage it will cause.
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"Coastal areas are very vulnerable to floods no matter how weak or strong a cyclone is. If Hamoon makes landfall during high tide, it will bring more water in," he added.
When asked whether the cyclone was unexpected or not, the former BMD director said it was very obvious that there was a depression in the Bay that could turn into a cyclone.
"The Met office has been talking about disturbances in the ocean and a possible cyclone for days now. It is not possible to term a sea disturbance as cyclone until it crosses a certain threshold," he said, adding that a cyclone always start as a deep depression.
He also said the respective authorities have been monitoring the situation 24/7 and will provide all the information necessary on time.
The Met Office has already asked the maritime ports of Payra and Chattogram to hoist danger signal no seven and six for Cox's Bazar and five for Mongla.
Following the Met office's warning, the Chittagong Port Authority issued its own danger signal - "Alert 3".
Meanwhile, the government is taking all the necessary steps in the coastal areas.
Bangladesh Meteorological Department, in a special bulletin today morning, said cyclonic storm 'Hamoon' has intensified into a severe cyclonic storm over the northwest Bay and adjoining west-central Bay and moved northeastwards.
It now lies over northwest Bay and adjoining area and was centred at 6am today about 490 km west-southwest of Chattogram port, 455 km west-southwest of Cox's Bazar port, 365 km southwest of Mongla port, and 355 km southwest of Payra port, it said.
