Low pressure may turn into a massive cyclone
BMD Advise maritime ports to hoist signal number one
Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has asked the maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Mongla and Payra to hoist distant cautionary signal number one.
The fishermen have been advised not to go to the deep sea. Those who are already in the deep sea have been advised to return to the coast by May 23.
BMD asked to hoist the signal in a bulletin at 9am Saturday, stating that possible Cyclone 'YAAS' is now a low pressure in the Bay of Bengal and most likely it will become a cyclonic storm.
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"A low has formed over the east central bay and adjoining area. It is likely to intensify into a depression, further into a deep depression and then into a cyclonic storm," reads the bulletin.
Abdul Mannan, a meteorologist of Bangladesh Meteorological Department, told The Business Standard, "We declared it as a low pressure in the morning. It needs to pass three more steps to become a cyclone storm – Intensified Low presser, Depression and Deep Depression.
"It is very likely to form a cyclone storm on the day after tomorrow. It will move to north-western direction of the centre. It can make landfall on the coast of West Bengal and Bangladesh," he said.
"However, right now it cannot be ensured whether it will turn into a cyclone or not, and abjectly where it can make landfall," he added.
Meanwhile, on Saturday afternoon, the policy committee for preparedness activity of Cyclone YAAS sat in a meeting at the Secretariat, presided over by State Minister for the Disaster Management and Relief Enamur Rahman.
"Signal number may rise gradually observing the situation. Signal number four may be declared on Monday morning. Possible cyclone was supposed to go over Bhubaneswar, Odissa, West Bengal of India and Khulna coast. Now it seems that it can make landfall at West Bengal and Khulna, moving toward the southern direction," Enamur said.
"However, tomorrow it can be predicted more accurately," he added.
He also said that there is no need to be panicked as the government has all the skill and preparedness for a cyclone.
Due to the possibility of forming into a massive cyclone, district administrations of the coastal belt have started taking preparations. Bagerhat and Satkhira district administrations have already ordered to make the cyclone shelter centres ready to use.
Not much rain
Weather may remain mainly dry with temporary and partly cloudy sky elsewhere over the country. Day and night temperature may remain nearly unchanged.
Forecasting on 24 hours, BMD at 9am on Saturday said the rain and thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty and squally wind is likely to occur at a few places over Rangpur, Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions and at one or two places over Rajshahi and Dhaka division. Rain can fall one or two places over the regions of Jashore, Kushtia, Cumilla and Noakhali.
However a mild to moderate heat wave is sweeping over Dhaka, Khulna and Barishal divisions and the district of Rangmati.
Will it be a super cyclone?
Chattogram University Geography and Environmental Studies Proffesor Dr Biswajit Nath said, "By 26 May, the super cyclone will advance with a gusty wind speed of approximately 120-140 km/hr.
"Coastal flooding will occur as the Cyclone 'YAAS' will coincide with Super Flower moon Astronomical Tide on 26 May, 2021, the day the cyclone might make landfall. Therefore, the average storm surge height will be high," his Facebook handle wrote.
The maximum wave height has been predicted to be 6-7 metre and over depending on coastal configurations.
From the entire Sundarbans (India and Bangladesh) to the Kuakata coast in Bangladesh will be facing severe waves and coastal inundation on 26-27 May.
However, 222 kilometre per hour wind speed is needed to be a super cyclone. Cyclone Fani was a super Cyclone in the recent past.
