Kolkata, May 11: The deep depression over the Bay of Bengal intensified into a cyclonic storm -- Mocha -- overnight and it is likely to make landfall between Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh and Sittwe in Myanmar, officials said on Thursday morning.

The cyclone, named Mocha by Yemen -- pronounced as 'Mokha', is likely to bring heavy rainfall to the Andaman island chain, they said. At 8.30 am, the cyclonic storm was about 510 km southwest of Port Blair, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. Cyclone Mocha Key Points To Know: Heavy Rainfall Likely in Parts of East India As Cyclonic Formation Could Intensify Into Storm!.

The storm is likely to turn into a severe cyclonic storm by tonight, it said. "It would reach its peak intensity on the evening of May 13," the IMD said. Cyclone Mocha Latest Update: Low Pressure Formed Over Bay of Bengal Likely to Move Towards Myanmar-Bangladesh Coast.

Cyclone Mocha

It is likely to weaken slightly from the morning of May 14, and cross southeast Bangladesh and north Myanmar coasts between Cox's Bazar and Kyaukpyu with a maximum sustained wind speed of 120-130 kmph, gusting to 145 kmph, the IMD said.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)