Depression may turn into cyclone today

The well-marked low over the Bay of Bengal gathered strength and intensified into a depression last night and it could turn into a cyclone by today, the Met office said.

"The depression may turn into a cyclonic storm Wednesday or the day after," said Bazlur Rashid, meteorologist, Bangladesh Meteorological Department, yesterday.

The Indian Meteorological Department in its report last night said, "It is likely to intensify into a depression on May 9 over the same region and further into a cyclonic storm over Southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas of east central Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea on May 10."

The bulletin also said it was likely to recurve gradually and move north-northeastwards and cross the Bangladesh-Myanmar coasts on May 14. It said on May 13 the storm could have windspeeds between 135kmph and 160kmph. The depression was around 1,495km South-Southwest of Cox's Bazar, 1,585km South of Mongla and 1,535km South of Payra port at 6:00pm yesterday.

Maritime ports have been asked to show cautionary signal-1, which means there is a storm out at sea with windspeeds over 61kmph.

All fishing boats were asked to stay close to shore and be cautious. Bangladesh Meteorological Department forecast that the severe heatwave sweeping over Rajshahi, Netrakona, Khulna, Chuadanga, and Kushtia, and mild to moderate heatwave elsewhere in the country may continue.

For two days, Dhaka city has had high temperatures of 39 degrees Celsius. The Met office recorded Dhaka's highest temperature at 39.8 degrees Celsius yesterday while the highest temperature in the country was recorded in Chuadanga, 41.2 degrees Celsius.

The Met office said the weather may remain dry with temporary partly cloudy sky over the country. It said there could be rain at one or two places in Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions.

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