The low pressure in the Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into cyclone Asani by Sunday.
It is likely to hit India’s Odisha and Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday and then move towards the coastal areas of the Sundarbans and Satkhira.
Sri Lanka has christened the possible cyclone Asani, which means anger in Sinhala.
The low-pressure area has intensified into a well-marked low, according to meteorologist Shahinul Islam.
He added that it was not yet possible to track its trajectory but so far it looked like it would hit the Indian coast.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the met office said: “The well-marked low over southeast Bay and adjoining south Andaman Sea moved slightly northwestwards, intensified into a depression over the same area at 12 noon today (Saturday) about 1,425 km south of Chittagong port, 1,340 km south of Cox’s Bazar port, 1,460 km south-southeast of Mongla Port and 1,405 km south-southeast of Payra Port. It is likely to intensify further and move in a northwesterly direction.
The maximum sustained wind speed within 44km of the depression centre is about 40 kph, rising to 50 kph in gusts/squalls.
The sea is expected to remain moderate near the centre of the depression.
The maritime ports of Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra have been advised to hoist distant cautionary signal no 1.
All fishing boats and trawlers over the North Bay and deep sea have been advised to come close to the coast and proceed with caution. They have also been advised not to venture into the deep sea.
In the cautionary signals to the maritime ports, it was stated that rain accompanied by thunderstorms and winds up to 45-60km/h is likely over Rajshahi, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Pabna, Bogura, Tangail, Mymensingh, Dhaka, Faridpur, Madaripur, Jessore, Kushtia, Barisal, Patuakhali, Noakhali, Comilla, Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar.
