Met Office Issues "Danger Signals" for Bangladesh Maritime Ports

The met office overnight issued "danger signals" for all seaports as the deep depression brewed in the Bay of Bengal approaches Bangladesh coastlines repeatedly changing its course and gradually turning to be cyclone codenamed 'Sitrang'.

The met office issued its latest special bulletin this afternoon asking Mongla and Payra seaports to keep hoisting "danger signal number 7" and Chattogram seaport and Cox's Bazar to maintain danger signal number 6.

But according to the two met office bulletins issued at 8:30 am and 2 pm the storm advanced by 130 kilometres in six hours and its epicentre was located about 335 kilometres southwest of Payra Port, 365 southwest of Mongla Port, 395 kilometres southwest of Cox's Bazar Port and 44 kilometres southwest of Chattogram Port.

"It (cyclone) is likely to intensify further, move in a northeasterly direction and cross Barishal-Chattogram near Khepupara ((Borguna) by midnight tonight or early morning tomorrow," the latest met office bulletin read.

Meteorologist Omar Faruque of the meteorology department said so far the cyclone appeared to be heading towards Barishal coastlines, but it might slightly change the course towards the Noakhali coast.

He said the deep depression turned into a "cyclonic storm" on its way towards Bangladesh coasts and feared its intensity to increase further to become a "severe cyclone" when it was expected to make landfall early tomorrow.

 "We, however, don't expect it to be a 'severe cyclone'," Faruque told the state media BSS.

But the latest met office bulletin said in under the periphery of the cyclone, new moon phase and steep pressure gradient, the low-lying areas of the coastal districts of Khulna, Satkhira, Bagerhat, Jhalokati, Pirojpur, Borguna, Potuakhali, Bhola, Barishal, Laxmipur, Chandpur, Noakhali, Feni, Chattogram and Cox's Bazar and their offshore islands and chars are likely to be inundated by the wind-driven surge of 5-8 feet above normal astronomical tide.

According to the met office, coastal districts of Khulna, Satkhira, Bagerhat, Jhalokati, Pirojpur, Borguna, Potuakhali, Bhola, Barishal, Laxmipur, Chandpur, Noakhali and Feni and their offshore islands will come under danger signal number 7.

The inland river ports have been asked to hoist riverine danger signal no 3 on a scale of 4.

Chittagong seaport and Cox's Bazar have been advised to hoist danger signal number 6. Also, the coastal districts of Chattogram and Cox's Bazar and their offshore islands and chars will be under the same danger signal, the special bulletin said.

According to a special weather bulletin issued this morning, rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary east, or south-easterly squalls speeding at 62-88 kph or more are likely to occur over the regions of Khulna, Barishal, Patuakhali, Cumilla, Noakhali, Chattogram and Cox's Bazar, and so the river ports of the said area were asked to hoist riverine danger signal no three.

A similar weather situation is likely to occur elsewhere over the country with lesser speeded gusts of 60-80 kph and so the river ports were advised to hoist riverine warning signal no two, the bulletin added.

The disaster management officials in Dhaka, meanwhile, said they issued directives for required preparedness in southwestern coastal districts while media reporters from the region said they were witnessing heavy rainfalls along with stormy winds.

"The cyclone is approaching coinciding with the new moon, inflating waters in the coastal rivers like Payra, Bishkhali and Baleshwar which also usually is known as streams with the strong current," the media said.

Reports from Barishal, Patuakhali, Jhalokati and Bhola also suggested identical situations while preparedness was underway to evacuate tens of thousands of people to cyclone shelters.

The deep depression in the Bay of Bengal has been changing course repeatedly to become Cyclone 'Sitrang', it said.

Due to the impact of Cyclone Sitrang', rain has started all over the country including the capital Dhaka since midnight on Sunday. Although the amount of rain is less now, it will continue to increase slowly, said the Meteorological Office.

Heavy to very heavy rain is likely across the country from today. The intensity of rain will be high, especially in coastal areas.

The cyclone is likely to hit the Bangladesh coast anytime between within Tuesday evening. As a result, the coastal districts of the country may be inundated with high tides, according to the forecast of the Meteorological Department.

The met office said Cyclone Sitrang may temporarily bring light to moderate rain and thundershowers with gusty winds in most places of Mymensingh, Dhaka, Khulna, Barisal, Chittagong and Sylhet divisions and many places in Rangpur and Rajshahi divisions.

Also, there may be moderate to very heavy rainfall in some places across the country. Due to the impact of the cyclone, gusty or gusty winds of 40 to 50 kmph may blow in the Bay of Bengal and the coastal areas of Bangladesh. Along with this, very heavy rainfall of 44 to 88 mm is possible.

It said Cyclone 'Sitrang' may move towards Barisal and Noakhali again today.