Bay of Bengal Depression Strengthens: Signal No. 1 for Four Ports, Severe Cyclone May Cross Andhra Coast on October 28

The depression over the Bay of Bengal is steadily gaining strength and may intensify into a deep depression as early as Sunday. According to a special bulletin from the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, it may strengthen further and cross India's Andhra Pradesh coast as a severe cyclonic storm on October 28. The country's four seaports have been advised to hoist distant cautionary signal number 1.

The warning was issued in the Meteorological Department's special bulletin on Sunday (October 25). This latest stage marks a step beyond the earlier forecast, which had only hinted at a cyclone forming overnight; ports have now been directly asked to display cautionary signals.

The bulletin said the depression over the east-central Bay of Bengal and adjoining southeast Bay moved further southwest and was staying over the same area. At 6 am on Sunday, its centre was located at latitude 15.2 degrees north and longitude 91 degrees east.

At that time it lay 985 kilometres south of Chattogram port, 900 kilometres south of Cox's Bazar, 850 kilometres south of Mongla and 860 kilometres south of Payra. The system is still far from Bangladesh's coast, but its track is being watched closely.

According to the forecast, the depression may move south, intensify further and become a deep depression today itself, after which it is likely to move in a northwesterly direction.

If conditions remain favourable, it may gain more strength and, by October 28, turn into a very severe cyclonic storm and cross the Andhra Pradesh coast of India, the forecast said. Every change in the system's strength and course over the next three days will therefore matter.

The bulletin added that the maximum sustained wind speed within 44 kilometres of the depression's centre is 40 kilometres per hour, rising to 60 kilometres per hour in gusts. The sea near the centre remains moderately rough.

In this situation, the seaports of Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Mongla and Payra have all been advised to keep hoisting distant cautionary signal number 1. A distant cautionary signal means a stormy weather system exists far away and must be monitored, although it is not yet a direct threat to the coast.

Fishing boats and trawlers operating in the north Bay of Bengal have been advised to stay close to the coast and move with caution until further notice. The advice is especially important for fishermen in the deep sea, since small boats and trawlers face the greatest risk when the sea turns rough.