Cyclone Mocha is likely to form over the southeast Bay of Bengal this week. The India Meteorological Department (IMD), has been closely monitoring a cyclonic storm that is forming over the Bay of Bengal. Cyclone Mocha is likely to make landfall between May 8 and 11.
The weather agency has not yet issued a forecast. However, the West Bengal government has started making preparations in the wake of the cyclone. It is the first cyclone of the year and is named by Yemen.
“We are expecting a low-pressure area over the southern part of Bay of Bengal by May 8 with the chance of this system intensifying further. As of now, there is much divergence on whether it will be a cyclonic storm or not and also which direction it will proceed if it is a cyclone. We should be more definite about it by Thursday,” said GK Das, director (weather) at Regional Meteorological Centre, Kolkata told The Times of India.
The IMD, in its press release, said that a cyclonic circulation is likely to develop over Southeast Bay of Bengal around Saturday. “A cyclonic circulation is likely to develop over Southeast Bay of Bengal around 6th May, 2023. Under its influence a low pressure area is likely to form over the same region around 7th May. It is likely to concentrate into a depression over Southeast Bay of Bengal on 8th May,” the weather agency stated.
The MeT Department further added, “Thereafter, it is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm while moving nearly northwards towards the central Bay of Bengal. The details of its path and intensification will be provided after the formation of low-pressure area. The system is under constant watch and being monitored regularly.”