Fani weakens before lashing Bangladesh

The severe cyclonic storm Fani over coastal Odisha and adjoining northwest bay moved north-northeastwards and has weakened further before reaching Bangladesh.

It now lies over coastal Odisha, Gangetic West Bengal and adjoining area at last reported around 9:00pm, according to the latest special weather bulletin from Bangladesh Meteorological Department.

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It is likely to move in a north-northeasterly direction further and reach Khulna and adjoining southwestern part of Bangladesh during midnight tonight to tomorrow morning, the bulletin said.

Earlier the Kolkata Met Office had said that the very severe cyclonic storm Fani will weaken down to an ordinary cyclone before lashing Bangladesh at midnight.

Regional Meteorological Centre Kolkata chief Sanjib Banerjee said the cyclone will hit West Bengal in a weakened state, our Kolkata correspondent reports.

A road is inundated in Dacope upazila of Khulna following the impact of cyclone Fani, which is likely to hit Khulna and adjoining southwestern part of Bangladesh by midnight today. Photo: Anisur Rahman Star

“After crossing West Bengal as a severe cyclone, it will make landfall in Bangladesh as an ordinary category cyclone with wind speed reducing down 60 to 70 kph,” he said.

FANI ANNOUNCING APPROACH ALREADY

In Dhaka, the cyclone caused an intensely overcast sky since 3:30pm and a short gust of rain accompanied by thunders and gusty winds.

“The rain is caused by Fani. It is likely to cause more rain from now onwards,” Abdur Rahim, a meteorologist at Bangladesh Meteorological Department, told The Daily Star.

Met Office says, the cyclone is likely to unleash its full wrath from midnight.

Trees are uprooted by winds and heavy rainfall in a village of Khulna’s Dacope upazila on Friday, May 3, 2019, following the impact of cyclone Fani, which is likely to hit Khulna and adjoining southwestern part of Bangladesh by midnight. Photo: Anisur Rahman Star

“We assume, the storm will hit Khulna by midnight. We will begin seeing the storm intensify from then on,” he said, citing the latest updated forecast.

DANGER SIGNAL 7 IN MONGLA, PAYRA

Maritime ports of Mongla and Payra have been advised to keep hoisted danger signal number 7. Coastal districts of Bhola, Borguna, Patuakhali, Barishal, Pirojpur, Jhalokathi, Bagherhat, Khulna, Satkhira and their offshore islands and chars will also come under danger signal number 7.

The maritime port of Chattogram has been advised to keep hoisted danger signal number 6. Coastal districts of Chattogram, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur, and their offshore islands and chars will also come under danger signal number 6.

The maritime port of Cox’s Bazar has been advised to keep hoisted local warning signal number 4, says the special weather bulletin of the Met Office.