Weather news: Depression forms in Bay of Bengal, signal No. 1 at four Bangladesh sea ports
At a glance
- The low over the Bay of Bengal intensified into a depression at 6am on Sunday.
- Four sea ports are on signal No. 1; boats in the North Bay are told not to go into deep sea.
- India's weather office expects Cyclone Akvan to form by the evening of 16 November.
The big weather news today is out at sea. The low-pressure area over the southeast Bay of Bengal strengthened into a depression at 6am on Sunday, 15 November. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has advised Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Mongla and Payra sea ports to hoist cautionary signal No. 1. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the system may turn into a cyclonic storm by the evening of 16 November, when it will be named Akvan.
Where the depression is now
Citing the Met Office's special bulletin, several Bangladeshi outlets reported that the depression was centred near 9.0°N latitude and 86.8°E longitude on Sunday morning, moving north-northwest. Its distance from the ports:
- About 1,950 km southwest of Chattogram port
- About 1,900 km southwest of Cox's Bazar
- About 1,820 km southwest of Mongla
- About 1,825 km southwest of Payra
Sustained winds near the centre are around 40 km/h, gusting up to 50 km/h, and the sea near the centre is expected to be moderate.
Advice for fishermen and boats
Fishing boats and trawlers in the North Bay of Bengal have been told to stay close to the coast and not to go into deep sea until further notice. On the Indian side, the IMD asked fishermen to return to the coast by 15 November.
Where Cyclone Akvan could go
Indian media, citing the IMD, reported that the system should first become a deep depression and then a cyclonic storm over the central Bay of Bengal around the evening of 16 November. The name Akvan was contributed by Iran.
Winds over the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea could reach up to 60 km/h at first and around 80 km/h from 17 November, the forecasts said.
On the track, most weather models so far point towards the Andhra Pradesh coast of India, and the IMD has issued a pre-cyclone watch for Andhra Pradesh and adjoining south Odisha. No direct hit on Bangladesh has been forecast so far. Cyclone tracks can still shift, though, so people on the coast should keep an eye on the next Met Office bulletins.
Possibly the third cyclone in a month
If it becomes a cyclone, it will be the third cyclonic storm in the Bay of Bengal in about a month:
- Cyclone Arnab made landfall near Narasapur in Andhra Pradesh on 28 October as a very severe cyclonic storm.
- Cyclone Murasu crossed the Andhra Pradesh coast near Ongole on the morning of 3 November as a severe cyclonic storm.
Both mainly hit India's coast, and the early forecast for this system points the same way.
Timeline at a glance
- 14 November: well-marked low over the southeast Bay of Bengal.
- 15 November, 6am: low becomes a depression; signal No. 1 at four ports.
- 16 November evening (forecast): likely to become Cyclone Akvan.
- From 17 November (forecast): winds over the sea may strengthen further.
What to do now
Coastal residents and fishermen should follow the Met Office's special bulletins and local administration instructions. We will update this story if the signal is raised or the track changes. For the earlier forecast, read: Well-marked low in the Bay, Cyclone Akvan possible.
Sources
This report combines information from The Business Standard, The Report, India TV News, Daijiworld and Sambad English.
FAQ
Where is the depression now?
On Sunday morning its centre was over the southeast and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal, near 9.0°N latitude and 86.8°E longitude, about 1,950 km southwest of Chattogram port.
Which ports have hoisted a signal?
Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Mongla and Payra, Bangladesh's four sea ports, have been advised to hoist cautionary signal No. 1.
Will Cyclone Akvan hit Bangladesh?
Forecasts published so far point the likely track towards the Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha coasts of India. No direct hit on Bangladesh has been forecast, but tracks can change, so follow the next bulletins of the Bangladesh Meteorological Department.
Who gave the name Akvan?
The name Akvan was contributed by Iran to the list of cyclone names. The system will take it if it becomes a cyclonic storm.
What are fishermen told to do?
Fishing boats and trawlers in the North Bay of Bengal should stay close to the coast and avoid deep-sea trips until further notice.
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