Tropical Cyclone Bijli made landfall south of Chittagong, Bangladesh, onSaturday morning (late afternoon EDT), and will continue to move in aneast-northeasterly motion this weekend across northwestern Myanmar. Winds wereestimated near 60 mph at the time of landfall. The storm is expected to weakenconsiderably over the next 24 hours as the center of the storm interacts withthe mountainous terrain of Myanmar.Despite the weakening trend, Bijli did cause a fair amount of damage alongthe coast of southeastern Bangladesh. At least one boy was killed when anuprooted tree fell on him. A second person was also injured. Numerous trees andpower lines were knocked down, and much of the coastal city of Chittagongremains without power.
With the storm moving inland, the greatest threat will now shift fromcoastal areas to the mountains of western Myanmar. Up to 10 inches of rain ispossible, which will trigger flooding, as well as mudslides.
Myanmar was struck by powerful Cyclone Nargis on May 2, 2008, resulting inthe worst natural disaster in Myanmar's recorded history. Nargis struck theIrrawaddy Delta, an area farther south than where Bijli made landfall.
Story by AccuWeather.com Meteorologist Eric Wanenchak.
