Cyclone Mocha likely to make landfall in Myanmar, skip east Indian coast and Bangladesh

We're expecting that it will become a very severe cyclonic storm over the central Bay of Bengal and it will change its path from May 12 onward, an IMD official said. It is expected to move toward Bangladesh and Myanmar coast, he added.

The IMD has predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall over the Andaman and Nicobar Islands this week. As per the latest update, there is no immediate threat from Cyclone Mocha, but its route will be clearer in the next two days.

Several districts across West Bengal will also receive light to moderate rain on May 8, owing to a rise in humidity levels and heat. Eighteen districts in Odisha are also on high alert.

The spokesperson, however, added that there is "very little possibility of rains caused by the cyclone in the next two days, and the picture will be clearer by Tuesday."

The Times of India on Sunday reported that while the IMD and Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) were unable to trace the formation of a low-pressure area in the Bay of Bengal, it is possible that Cyclone Mocha may veer toward southern Andaman and Nicobar Islands and affect Myanmar.

The storm is unlikely to affect the Bengal coast, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh as well.

Eighteen coastal and adjoining districts in the state of Odisha are on high alert in preparation for Cyclone Mocha. Collectors of those districts were told to remain watchful of the IMD's forecasts and updates.

Rain is likely to be expected in parts of Andhra Pradesh's Rayalaseema region, the IMD predicts. There will be light rains over the next two days and no heatwave conditions are likely to prevail over the state.

The IMD has predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands from May 8 to May 12.

A cyclonic circulation is forming over the southeast Bay of Bengal and the adjourning southern Andaman Sea, the RMC reported.

Additionally, the IMD in its daily weather update on Sunday reported that squally weather with wind speed reaching 40-50km/h is likely to affect the southeast Bay of Bengal, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the adjoining Andaman Sea today.

Reacting to the news on Cyclone Mocha on Monday afternoon, WB Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said there is no need to fear.

"If there comes difference circumstances, we will rescue people from coastal areas as the cyclone will move to Bangladesh and then Myanmar," she said.

Officials have announced that it is unlikely that Kolkata will see any rain until Thursday, May 11 as the Cyclone Mocha may not hit the Bengal coast.

Maximum temperature in Kolkata is slated to rise to 38.4 degrees Celsius along with an 85 percent humidity level on Monday, making the possibility of light to moderate rainfall accompanied by lightning.

These conditions are highly likely to be seen in the city, North and South 24 Parganas, Hooghly, Bankura, Birbhum, Purba Medinipur, Howrah, Purba and Paschim Bardhaman, according to a MeT office spokesperson.

The northern part of the state, including districts of Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Kalimpong, Alipurduar, Coochbehar, Uttar Dinajpur, Dakshin Dinajpur and Malda, however, may experience light rains in the next 24 hours, as per the IMD.

On the other hand, there is no possibility of north West Bengal districts coming under the influence of the cyclone, as the cyclonic system, if formed, may make landfall finally in the coastal belt of Bangladesh-Myanmar by the end of next week, affecting south Bengal.

The city of Kolkata has put its standard operating procedure into action asking all police stations in Kolkata to assess generator requirements in the case of electric lines snapping during the storm. Authorities have also prepared 100 pumps, sandbags and tools to remove tree branches from roads in preparation for the cyclone.