A low pressure has formed over the east-central Bay of Bengal and the adjoining north Andaman Sea, warned the Bangladesh Meteorological Department in a bulletin issued at 6:00pm on Sunday with the prediction of the weather system intensifying.
鈥楾he weather system is under close observation since we already moved into the cyclone season,鈥� said meteorologist Shahnaj Sultana.
The India Meteorological Department said that the low pressure was likely to intensify into a depression by October 22 morning and a cyclonic storm the next day.
The potential cyclonic storm is likely to move northeastward and reach the northeast Bay of Bengal off the coast of Odisha and West Bengal by October 24 morning.
Different weather models agreed on the low turning into a cyclonic storm but differed on its potential tracks.
Independent weather forecaster Mostofa Kamal Palash said that the cyclonic storm was likely to hit on October 24 and might cross the land between West Bengal of India and Khulna in Bangladesh, giving substantial rainfall over a vast area.
The Bay of Bengal is known for producing strong cyclones mainly in two seasons 鈥� pre-monsoon and post monsoon. The pre-monsoon season brewing storms covers months of April and May.
The monsoon season extending over four months from June does not produce storms.
The post-monsoon months from October to December produce storms.
Once formed, the potential cyclonic storm would assume the name Dana.
This year severe cyclonic storm Remal hit India and Bangladesh on May 26. The storm left behind a long trail of damage. Some of the storm鈥檚 destruction could not be overcome as yet, particularly in coastal areas where the storm breached protection embankments.
The BMD predicted widespread rainfall in many parts of Bangladesh to occur tomorrow under the influence of the system.
On Sunday, Bangladesh鈥檚 highest maximum rainfall of 28mm was recorded at Tetulia.
Bangladesh鈥檚 highest maximum temperature of 34.5C was recorded in Feni.
