Murashu intensifies into a severe cyclone, likely to cross the Andhra coast between midnight and early Tuesday

After the very severe cyclone Arnab, another cyclone, Murashu, is approaching. It has intensified into a severe cyclone and may strengthen further before crossing the south Andhra Pradesh coast between midnight tonight, Monday, and 4am tomorrow, Tuesday.

India's meteorological department, the IMD, said Cyclone Murashu over the west-central Bay of Bengal and adjoining southwest Bay moved northwestwards and intensified into a severe cyclone. The Bay of Bengal remains rough under its influence.

In a special bulletin issued at 6:30am today, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department said the cyclone over the west-central Bay and adjoining southwest Bay moved northwestwards, intensified and turned into a severe cyclone over the same area.

According to the bulletin, at 3am on 2 November the cyclone was located 1,390 kilometres southwest of Chattogram port, 1,350 kilometres southwest of Cox's Bazar port, 1,245 kilometres southwest of Mongla port and 1,255 kilometres southwest of Payra port. It is likely to move further northwestwards and cross India's Andhra coast tonight as a severe cyclone.

Within 64 kilometres of the severe cyclone centre, the maximum sustained wind speed is 89 kilometres per hour, rising to 117 kilometres per hour in gusts. The sea remains very rough near the centre.

Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Mongla and Payra ports have therefore been advised to keep hoisted distant warning signal number two. Fishing boats and trawlers operating in the north Bay have been advised to stay close to the coast and move carefully until further notice.

For Dhaka, the six-hour forecast from 7am said the sky over the capital and nearby areas may remain partly cloudy and the weather mainly dry. Wind may blow from the north or northwest at 6 to 12 kilometres per hour, and the day temperature may remain nearly unchanged.

The forecast also said Dhaka recorded 26 degrees Celsius at 6am today with humidity of 86 percent. Sunset in Dhaka today will be at 5:19pm and sunrise tomorrow at 6:06am.