Cyclone Dana continues to intensify, raising concerns for the coastal areas of Bangladesh.
The Meteorological Office has warned of heavy to very heavy rains, accompanied by gusty winds, over the northern Bay of Bengal and the adjacent coastal districts, as well as outlying islands.
Under the influence of the cyclone's advancing front, the coastal districts of Satkhira, Khulna, Bagerhat, Barguna, Barishal, Jhalkathi, Pirojpur, Patuakhali, Bhola, Lakshmipur, Noakhali, Feni, Chattogram, and Cox's Bazar, along with their offshore islands and low-lying areas, could be inundated by wind-driven tidal surges of 2 to 3 feet above normal levels.
Meteorologist Hafizur Rahman noted that Cyclone Dana is expected to cross the North Odisha-West Bengal coast of India by midnight today (October 24), between Puri of Orisha and Sagar Dwip of West Bengal.
According to a Special Weather Bulletin today (October 24), the cyclone was located 570 km southwest of Chittagong seaport, 535 km southwest of Cox's Bazar, and 435 km southwest of Mongla and Payra seaports. The cyclone is expected to move further north-northwest.
Winds near the cyclone's center are reaching speeds of 90 km/h, increasing to 110 km/h in gusts. The Meteorological Office has advised Chittagong, Cox's Bazar, Mongla, and Payra seaports to hoist local cautionary signal 3.