Mocha turns very severe cyclone, may intensify further ahead of landfall
severe hurricane Mocha Over the southeast and adjacent central Bay of Bengal the cyclone intensified to a very intense cyclone over the adjacent central and southeastern bay about 520 kilometers WNW of Port Blair; 1010 km south-south-west of Cox’s Bazar; and 930 km south-south-west of Sittwe (Myanmar).
Likely to move north-northeast and intensify over the Bay of East Central Bengal and cross southeastern Bangladesh and northern Myanmar coasts near Sittwe on Sunday afternoon as a very intense typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 150-160 km/h gusting to 175 km/h .
It starts to turn, US agency says
The US Joint Hurricane Warning Center said Mocha It has started its turn and is expected to continue tracking towards the northeast with the general environment becoming increasingly conducive to continued intensification.
Low vertical wind shear ensuring continued stable winds, warm sea surface temperatures, and good flow over the top of the storm tower will allow rapid intensification.
The Hurricane Warning Center raised peak intensity to 222 km/h (near super typhoon) over the next two days, given a lot of guidance indicating the potential for a period of rapid intensification, which may already be underway.
The only possible limiting factor is a sliver of cooler sea surface temperatures (28°C) and lower ocean heat content off Myanmar’s shores.
peak intensity of the storm
Elsewhere, over the central Gulf and Middle East, sea surface temperatures are much higher at 31 degrees Celsius (this) on Friday morning.
According to the US tracker, Mocha It will reach peak intensity a few hours before landfall, which occurs around noon Sunday. After landfall, a rapid dissipation is expected as the intense cyclone interacts with the rugged terrain in Myanmar.
business line Earlier quoted by a few record-setting global weather tracking agencies, the storm may reach category 4 or 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale of storm intensity.
Even IMD has hinted that there is scope for further ramping up of the system before landing, against its original forecast of slight weakness off Myanmar. The US agency also says that the cold waters off Myanmar may not be enough to slow the storm significantly.