Dana: BD ports raise local signal No. 3

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has advised four maritime ports to raise cautionary signal No. 3 as Cyclone Dana approached within 600 km of Bangladesh's coast by Wednesday noon, report agencies.

The cyclonic storm is expected to move northwestward and intensify into a severe cyclonic storm over the northwest Bay of Bengal by early Thursday morning, according to the latest bulletin released by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).

The IMD Office said that the cyclone might make landfall on the coast near North Odisha and West Bengal.

Coastal districts including Bagerhat, Khulna, Bhola, and Satkhira have been experiencing rain accompanied by gusty winds since Wednesday morning due to the impact of Cyclone Dana.

District administrations have made necessary preparations to face the potential impact of the cyclone, although the BMD predicted that the cyclone is unlikely to hit the Bangladesh coastline.

The cyclonic storm was located in the east-central Bay of Bengal and was moving west-northwest, according to a special weather bulletin from the BMD on Wednesday.

By Wednesday noon, it was centered 665 km west-southwest of the Chattogram Port, 600 km west-southwest of the Cox's Bazar Port, 640 km south-southeast of Mongla Port, and 595 km south-southeast of Payra Port.

The BMD stated that it was likely to continue moving west-northwest and intensifying.

The maximum sustained wind speed within 54 km of the cyclone's center was about 62 kph, increasing to 88 kph in gusts and squalls.

The sea will remain very rough near the cyclone centre, the bulletin said.