Bangladesh ports raise warning signal as Cyclone Arnab strengthens

Bangladesh’s weather agency advised four maritime ports to raise distant warning signal No. 2 on Oct. 26 as a deep depression strengthened into Cyclonic Storm Arnab in the Bay of Bengal.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) forecast further strengthening into a severe cyclonic storm by midnight, The Business Standard reported, citing United News of Bangladesh (UNB).

At 6 a.m., maximum sustained winds near the storm’s center reached about 62 kilometers per hour, with gusts reaching 88 kilometers per hour. Seas near the center were expected to remain very rough.

Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla, and Payra ports received the warning. Fishing boats and trawlers in the North Bay were advised to stay near the coast and proceed cautiously. The BMD forecast an Andhra Pradesh crossing by Oct. 28; that remained a forecast.