A deep depression in the Bay of Bengal is set to intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm, codenamed Cyclone Mocha, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). A low-pressure system has already been formed over the southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining South Andaman Sea, signalling the start of the cyclone season.
Cyclone Mocha has been named after the Red Sea port city of Mokha, which is known to have introduced coffee to the world over 500 years ago. The storm is expected to move towards the Bangladesh and Myanmar coasts around May 12, with winds gusting up to 120 km/hour over the sea.
The weather department has warned small seafaring vessels and fishers not to venture out from Tuesday onwards. Heavy rainfall is expected in some areas, with wave height exceeding significantly, posing a risk for any kind of marine activities in the coming days.
IMD has also asked authorities to regulate tourism, offshore activities, and shipping near the Andaman and Nicobar Islands between May 8 and 12, as the current track of the cyclone is forecasted to be very close to the islands.
Meanwhile, North India is experiencing an “unusual” summer, with temperatures still remaining below the 40℃ mark in many parts of the country. The sudden change was brought upon by active western disturbances which passed more frequently over Northwest India, along with moisture from the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea.
But as the situation evolves, temperatures are expected to rise everywhere, leading to heatwave conditions in some parts of the country – starting with Gangetic West Bengal, then going to Odisha, Bihar and Jharkhand. The IMD has already issued a heatwave warning for Gangetic West Bengal for the next five days.
As climate change intensifies, there has been an increase in variability in weather, so below-normal temperatures can be expected sometimes, along with more frequent thunderstorms. But the basic trend is that temperatures are rising and the duration, frequency and intensity of thunderstorms is increasing too.