Rainfall likely to continue due to depression

The depression formed in the Bay may turn into a cyclone by today. According to Bangladesh Meteorological Department, a deep convection will continue over the north bay and squally weather may affect the maritime ports and coastal areas of Bangladesh. Arif Hosain, a meteorologist from the department, said: “The rainfall which started in the morning will continue across the country for at least the next two days. Some areas of the coastal districts might face heavy rainfall, however the districts of Rangpur and Rajshahi might experience less rain.” The Met Office already issued a local cautionary signal no 3 for all maritime ports and advised the fishing communities to stay close to shore to avoid casualties. According to a special weather bulletin issued yesterday,  the depression is currently over the west central bay and adjoining areas, moving north-northwestwards. The current location of the depression is about 1035kms from Chittagong, 995km from Cox’s Bazar, 885km from Mongla and 895km from Payra port. Indian Meteorological Department said the depression is very likely  to  move north-northwestwards and gradually curve back northeastwards towards the Bangladesh coast. AccuWeather reported, quoting its Meteorologist Courtney Spamer, prior to approaching Bangladesh,  conditions are conducive for the depression to either become a deep depression or even a named cyclone. “The best chance for it to strengthen into a cyclone will be into Saturday morning.” However, the depression should not become stronger than Cyclone Kyant which took  place a couple of days earlier in the Bay. “Increasingly hostile winds above the surface should cause the storm to weaken before nearing Bangladesh,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Jason Nicholls said. Regardless of its intensity, the depression will endanger lives and property by unleashing torrential rainfall. “The main threat from this system will be heavy rain and flooding from coastal Odisha to Bangladesh, including the cities of Kolkata and Dhaka,” Jason said, adding Puri of India and Chittagong in Bangladesh were among the other communities at risk. The name of the probable cyclone will be “Nada” given by Oman and which means dew.