Mocha: Cyclone to hit Bay of Bengal; Andhra issues orange alert

Hyderabad: Cyclone Mocha is likely to make landfall in the southeast Bay of Bengal and surrounding regions.

The cyclone may make landfall on the eastern coast between May 7 and May 9, according to IMD.

A cyclonic circulation is anticipated to emerge over the Southeast Bay of Bengal around May 6, according to IMD. Around May 7, a low-pressure area is predicted to develop over the same area under its influence. On May 8, it's most likely to coalesce into a depression over the Southeast Bay of Bengal.

Cyclone Mocha: List of states on alert

Chennai and Tamil Nadu: A system that might develop over the Bay of Bengal is expected to become a cyclonic storm in Chennai and the neighboring areas, according to the IMD. More rain is anticipated in the city and suburbs, therefore the state has been put on notice.

Odisha: Following the India Meteorological Department's (IMD) forecast of a probable cyclonic storm developing in the Bay of Bengal, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik presided over a high-level review meeting. Naveen instructed all departments to be prepared in case Mocha attacks the state. Odisha has had four cyclones in May during the past four years.

West Bengal: All cyclone-prone districts in West Bengal have been placed on notice as a precaution. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Forces (SDRF), and other organizations are prepared for every conceivable situation. In a warning to the fishermen, Kolkata's meteorological service stated: "Fishermen are advised not to venture into the sea around 08th-11th May 2023 due to the creation of the low-pressure system about 07th May 2023 over Southeast Bay of Bengal. By May 7 (afternoon), 2023, those who are in the deep water are recommended to return to the land”.

Andhra Pradesh: More rain is forecast for Andhra Pradesh as a result of Cyclone Mocha. In several areas of the state, authorities have issued an orange alert. Infrequent thunderstorms and lightning are anticipated across "NCAP & Yanam, SCAP and Rayalaseema" during the next two to three days, according to the IMD.

Here is what we now know:

After the cyclone became a cyclonic storm, it was given the name Cyclone Mocha.

Yemen suggested the name, which comes from the Yemeni city of Mocha (or Mokha), which is situated on the Red Sea coast. The port city, which has a long history of dealing in coffee, is also where the renowned Mocha Coffee got its name.

The cyclone was given a name by a WMO directive, which mandates that each cyclone be given a name to prevent confusion when many weather systems are active at once.

The IMD said that the model is showing a movement till May 10 in a north-northwesterly direction, followed by a curvature northeastward approaching the beaches of southeast Bangladesh and adjacent Myanmar.

The cyclonic storm "Asani" that formed on May 8 last year eventually faded out and reached the coast of Andhra Pradesh as a depression. On the morning of May 26, 2021, the powerful cyclone "Yaas" made landfall in the Balasore district of Odisha, whereas on the evening of May 20, 2020, Cyclone Amphan made landfall between the Sagar islands of West Bengal and the Hatiya islands of Bangladesh.

The latest storm to form in the Bay of Bengal in April was "Fani," which made landfall as an exceptionally strong cyclonic storm over the Odisha coast near Puri on May 3, 2019.