Cyclone Montha forms in Bay, warning signal no. 2 issued

Cyclone Montha forms in Bay, warning signal no. 2 issued

A deep depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal has intensified into a cyclonic storm named Montha, prompting the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) to issue distant warning signal no. 2 for all seaports.

According to BMD’s Monday morning bulletin, Montha—a Thai word meaning “fragrant flower”—is likely to strengthen further and make landfall along India’s Andhra Pradesh coast on Monday night.

At 3am, the cyclone was located about 1,360 kilometres southwest of Chattogram port, 1,300 kilometres southwest of Cox’s Bazar, 1,280 kilometres southwest of Mongla, and 1,260 kilometres southwest of Payra port. It was moving west-northwestwards at a speed of around six kilometres per hour.

The maximum sustained wind speed within 54 kilometres of the storm centre was about 62 kilometres per hour, with gusts reaching up to 88 kilometres per hour.

All maritime ports—Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra—have been advised to hoist distant warning signal no. 2, replacing the earlier distant cautionary signal no. 1.

Vessels operating in deep-sea areas have been instructed to remain close to the coast and avoid venturing into the open sea.