The well-marked low pressure in the southeast Bay of Bengal and its adjoining Andaman Sea has intensified into a depression, said Bangladesh Meteorological Department in a weather forecast bulletin issued at 9:00 am today.

According to the bulletin, maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Mongla and Payra were asked to hoist distant cautionary signal-1.

It may turn into a cyclone between tomorrow afternoon and the next day morning.

Meteorologist Md Abdul Mannan told The Daily Star that it is difficult to tell right now whether the depression would hit the coastal areas of Bangladesh after it turns into a cyclone.

It is more likely to hit coastal areas of the neighbouring country Myanmar, he said. "When it would come forward, we can be sure," he added.

He also said a mild heat wave is sweeping over some parts of the country. But the situation will change when the cyclone makes landfall. There is a possibility of rainfall in the eastern part of the country, he added.

If there is no other cyclone before this depression, it is to be intensified as a cyclone; it will be called "Asani".

According to the weather forecast, a mild heat wave is sweeping over Rajshahi, Dhaka and Khulna divisions and Rangamati, Chandpur, Feni, Sylhet, Dinajpur, Panchagarh, Nilphamari and Patuakhali districts and it may continue.

The day and night temperature might remain unchanged over the country, it said.