Bay depression likely to turn into cyclone
Special Correspondent
The low pressure area over the southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining central Bay gradually intensified into a deep depression yesterday afternoon, according to the Dhaka Met office. The initial low pressure, which was formed on Thursday, may gradually transform into a cyclone, meteorologists warned. With the sea turning rough along with high winds, the Met office has asked the maritime ports of Chittagong, Coxs Bazar, Mongla and Payra to hoist the distant cautionary signal number 1. Meanwhile, the deep depression intensified further and moved in a northern direction. It is likely to hasten the onshore arrival of the monsoon system, which has been brewing over the southeast Bay since May 23. The southwest monsoon system usually arrives near the Teknaf coast by May 28 before spreading towards the Chittagong coast, ushering in the rainy season in Bangladesh. However, the expected cyclone may delay the development of monsoon a bit as it would gain all its strength before spreading bales of clouds over the country, usually by the second week of June. As per its cycle, the rainy season is expected to depart sometime around the second week of October. Also yesterday, a little rain brought down the temperature a bit.
