MOCHA – First cyclonic storm in Bay of Bengal in the year 2023
Various weather models indicated cyclogenesis over the Bay of Bengal during the first week of May. Madden Julian Oscillation was also in phase 5 with amplitude 2. These favorable factors influences formation of low pressure system over Bay of Bengal on 8th May 2023. The low pressure area has been concentrated as depression on 9th May 2023 ( Night) and further intensified into cyclonic storm and severe cyclonic storm on 11th May 2023. The cyclonic storm is named as ‘Mocha’ ( pronounced as MOKHA ) suggested by Yemen.
Very Severe Cyclone
As per IMD, the Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Mocha over Central Bay of Bengal moved nearly north-northeastwards, lay centered at 1730 hours IST of 12th May 2023 near latitude 14.6°N and longitude 88.6°E, about 550 km northwest of Port Blair, 730 km south-southwest of Cox’s Bazar (Bangladesh) and 760 km southwest of Sittwe (Myanmar).
It is very likely to move north-northeastwards and intensify further into an Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm over Eastcentral Bay of Bengal during night of today, the 12th May 2023. It is likely to cross southeast Bangladesh and north Myanmar coasts between Cox’s Bazar (Bangladesh) and Kyaukpyu (Myanmar), close to Sittwe (Myanmar) around noon of 14th May, 2023 as a Very Severe Cyclonic.
Satellite image source: Meteologix.xom at
