Photo: Collected
Cyclone ‘Arnab’ over the Bay of Bengal intensified into an extremely severe cyclonic storm early this morning (Tuesday) and is moving towards the coast. The country’s seaports have been asked to hoist local cautionary signal No. 3.
According to a special bulletin issued today by the Meteorological Department, severe cyclonic storm ‘Arnab’, over the west-central Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas, moved west and north-west, intensified further and turned into an extremely severe cyclonic storm. It remains over the same area. At 3am, it was centred 990km south-west of Chattogram port, 945km south-west of Cox’s Bazar port, 865km south of Mongla port and 865km south of Payra port.
The bulletin added that the storm may move further west and north-west and cross India’s Andhra coast tomorrow, 28 October (Wednesday). Maximum sustained wind speed within 64km of the centre of the extremely severe cyclonic storm is 118km per hour, rising to 150km per hour in gusts or squalls. The sea will remain very rough near the storm centre. In view of this, Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra seaports have been advised to hoist local cautionary signal No. 3. All fishing boats and trawlers in the northern Bay of Bengal have been advised to stay close to the coast and proceed with caution until further notice.
The six-hour forecast from 7am said skies over Dhaka and its surrounding areas may remain partly cloudy until noon, with dry weather. Winds may blow from the north or north-east at 6-12km per hour, and daytime temperature may fall slightly.
According to the forecast, Dhaka’s temperature at 6am today was 26.8 degrees Celsius. The sun sets in the capital at 5:23pm today and rises at 6:02am tomorrow. No rain was recorded in or around Dhaka in the past 24 hours.
Background
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the storm may cross the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coast between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, with maximum sustained wind speeds of 115 to 125km per hour at the time, OdishaBytes reported on 25 October.
At a glance
According to a 24 October report by The Daily Star Bangla, the name ‘Arnab’ was proposed by Bangladesh and means sea; a 13-nation panel of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) assigns these names in rotation, and the next name on the list is ‘Murasu’, proposed by India.
As explained by Bangla Tribune, local cautionary signal No. 3 means the port and ships at anchor are at risk of being hit by bad weather; squally winds of 40 to 50km per hour may blow over the port.
Sources
Original report: Ajker Patrika
Background sources: OdishaBytes, 25 October 2026; The Daily Star Bangla, 24 October 2026; Bangla Tribune, 13 May 2023 (updated 15 May 2024)
