Coastal districts including Cox’s Bazar, Chittagong, Bagerhat, Khulna, Bhola and Satkhira are experiencing rain accompanied by gusty winds since Wednesday morning due to the impact of Cyclone Dana.
The deep depression in the Bay of Bengal and surrounding areas has intensified into cyclone Dana. It is steadily moving towards land.
As a result, the sky in various coastal areas of the country, including the capital Dhaka, is overcast, with light rain reported in some places.
Rainfall is expected to increase from Wednesday night.
In coastal areas such as Satkhira, Sundarbans, Pabna, Lakshmipur, Patuakhali, and the Teknaf, Saint Martin, light rain has already started.
Boat services on the Lakshmipur-Bhola-Barisal and Teknaf-Saint Martin routes have been suspended, with cloudy sky observed since morning and strong winds beginning in the afternoon.
Possible impact on Odisha
According to meteorologists, the current route of Cyclone Dana indicates it may make landfall on the coast of Odisha, India. Its effects could extend to the coastal districts of Khulna and Barisal in Bangladesh and West Bengal in India.
However, meteorologists caution that it is still too early to confirm this.
The maximum sustained wind speed within 54 kilometres of the cyclone centre is 62 kilometres per hour, with gusts or strong winds reaching up to 88 kilometres per hour. The sea is very rough near the cyclone centre.
Signal no 3 issued
Chittagong, Cox's Bazar, Mongla, and Payra seaports have been downgraded to signal no 2 and are now under local cautionary signal no 3.
All fishing boats and trawlers in the northern Bay of Bengal and deep sea are advised to take safe shelter until further notice.
Heavy Rain Forecast
The meteorological department forecast that many areas in the Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh, Khulna, Barisal, Chittagong, and Sylhet divisions may experience temporary gusty or stormy winds, along with rain and thunderstorms on Thursday.
There may also be moderate to heavy rainfall in some areas.
Furthermore, on Friday, many places in Khulna and Rajshahi divisions, as well as some areas in Rangpur, Dhaka, Mymensingh, Chittagong, and Sylhet divisions, may see temporary gusty or stormy winds with rain and thunderstorms, with the potential for moderate to heavy rainfall.
595 kilometres from Payra
According to a special bulletin from the meteorological office, the deep depression in the eastern-central Bay of Bengal and nearby areas has intensified into Cyclone Dana.
As of noon, it was located 665 kilometers south-southwest of Chittagong seaport, 600 kilometers south-southwest of Cox's Bazar, 640 kilometers south-southeast of Mongla, and 595 kilometers south-southeast of Payra seaport. It is expected to continue moving west-northwesterly and intensify further
The Indian Meteorological Department has reported that due to the depression, heavy rain may occur along the Andaman coast on Wednesday. The cyclone is likely to hit the Odisha coast.
Heavy rain is expected in scattered areas of the two 24 Parganas, Kolkata, two Medinipur districts, Howrah, Hooghly, Jhargram, and Bakura in West Bengal. Rainfall is expected to increase in these districts starting Thursday.
Rough seas
Parts of the Bay of Bengal have already begun to be turbulent.
The meteorological office has stated that the eastern and central Bay of Bengal has been rough since Monday.
The sea is expected to become even more turbulent on Thursday.
