Cyclone Mocha may heat up AP coast

HYDERABAD: Cyclone Mocha intensifying in the southeast Bay of Bengal may not bring heavy rainfall to AP, but it may have a negative impact on the coastal region by way of an increase in the temperature.

Stating this on Monday, senior scientist of IMD Amaravati, S Karunasagar, said an anti-cyclone process has formed over the Arabian Sea, pushing hot air from northwest India into the Bay of Bengal via the Indian Ocean. “Cyclone Mocha will suck all the moisture from the ocean that was caused by the recent pre-monsoon rains,” IMD said.

He said the temperature in north coastal Andhra has increased by two to four degree C on Monday. Subsequently, all the districts in the state would witness the same increase in temperature.

“This situation will continue till a new system forms over the Bay of Bengal or till the southwest monsoon sets in over Rayalaseema,” Karunasagar said.

The monsoon may advance this year due to cross-equatorial flow caused by cyclone Mocha, he said.

Meanwhile, a low-pressure area formed over the Southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining South Andaman Sea on Monday morning. “It is likely to intensify into a depression on Tuesday over the same region and further into a cyclonic storm over the southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas of the east-central Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea on May 10. It is likely to move initially north northwestwards till May 11.”

“Thereafter, it is likely to re-curve gradually and move north northeast towards the Bangladesh-Myanmar coasts where it would make landfall.”

IMD warned the fishermen not to venture into the sea for the next five days as there would be gusty winds with speed reaching up to 100kmph.