Low pressure over Bay turns into depression

The well-marked low over the Andaman Sea and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal on Saturday intensified into a depression over the east-central and adjoining southeast Bay and the north Andaman Sea.

It is likely to intensify further and move in a north-westerly direction, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) said in a special bulletin.

The weather system was situated about 925km south of Chattogram port, 845km south of Cox’s Bazar port, 945km south-southeast of Mongla port, and 890km south-southeast of Payra port at 6:00pm, it said.

Maximum sustained wind speed within 44km of the depression centre is about 40km per hour rising to 50km per hour in gusts. Sea will remain moderate near the depression centre.

The maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra have been advised to hoist distant cautionary signal number one, the Met office said.

All fishing boats and trawlers over the north Bay and deep sea have been advised to come close to the coast, proceed with caution and not to venture into the deep sea as well.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the weather system is very likely to move north-westwards and intensify further into a deep depression over the east-central Bay by Sunday morning.

It is very likely to recurve gradually north-northeastwards and intensify into a cyclonic storm over the central Bay of Bengal by Monday morning, the IMD said.

The possible cyclone already named Sitrang would continue to move north-northeastwards and cross the Bangladesh coast between Tinkona island and Sandwip in the early hours of Tuesday, it added.