Do you know the meaning of each marine signals?

With cyclone Asani lying over Southeast Bay and adjoining areas of Bangladesh, maritime ports have been advised to hoist Distant Warning Signal No 2.

However, what does Distant Warning Signal No 2 mean?

There are 11 kinds of cyclone warning signals used for sea ports, according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department.

Flags hoisted for warning signal Collected

Here is what each of the marine signals mean:

Distant Cautionary Signal No 1

There is a region of squally weather, with a wind speed of 61 km/hour in the distant sea where a storm may have formed.

Distant Warning Signal No 2

A storm, with a wind speed of 62-88 km/hour, has formed in the distant deep sea. 

Ships have a chance to fall into danger if they leave harbour.

Local Cautionary Signal No 3

The port is threatened by squally weather (wind speed of 40-50 kms/hour).

Local Warning Signal No 4

The port is threatened by a storm, with a wind speed of 51-61 km/hour. 

However, the condition is not as dangerous to justify extreme precautionary measures.

Danger Signal No 5

The port may experience severe weather from a storm of slight or moderate intensity.

The wind speed may be of 62-88 km/hour which is expected to cross the coast to the south of Chittagong port, Cox's Bazar port, and to the east of Mongla port.

Danger Signal No 6

The port may experience severe weather from a storm of slight or moderate intensity.

The wind speed may be of 62-88 km/hour which is expected to cross the coast to the north of Chittagong port or Cox's Bazar port, and the west of Mongla port.

Danger Signal No 7

The port will experience severe weather from a storm of light or moderate intensity (wind speed of 62-88 km/hour) that is expected to cross over or near the port.

Dhaka Tribune

Great Danger Signal No 8

The port may experience severe weather from a storm of great intensity.

The wind speed of 89 km/hour or more is expected to cross the coast to the south of Chittagong or Cox's Bazar ports, and the east Mongla port.

Great Danger Signal No 9

The port will experience severe weather from a storm of great intensity, with a wind speed of 89 km/hour or more.

 It is expected to cross coastal areas of Mongla.

Great Danger Signal No 10

The ports will experience severe weather from a storm of great intensity, with a wind speed of 89 km/hour or more.

The storm is expected to cross over or near the ports.

Failure of Communication No 11

Communications with the Storm Warning Centre have broken down and local officers consider that a devastating cyclone is following.