Tropical Cyclone Bijli continues to slowly intensify over the northern Bayof Bengal.Located approximately 150 miles south-southeast of Kolkata, India, Bijliwill continue to move in an east-northeasterly motion through Saturday. On thistrack, Bijli will continue to encounter a favorable environment for furtherstrengthening prior to making landfall late Saturday or Saturday night near theborder of Myanmar and Bangladesh. Winds could become sustained at or abovehurricane strength (75 mph) at the time of landfall.
Outer rain bands are currently impacting northeastern India, southernBangladesh and western parts of Myanmar. Conditions will continue todeteriorate across southern Bangladesh and Myanmar as Bijli approaches.
The government of Myanmar has issued a Cyclone Warning for the westerncoastal region of the country.
Rainfall totals are expected to exceed 10 inches in many locations near thepath of Bijli. Wind gusts upward of 90 mph are possible as well, with thestrongest winds near the landfall point. Along the immediate coast of westernMyanmar, a dangerous storm surge of 6-8 feet is expected prior to and duringlandfall. There can also be an isolated tornado or two from Bijli.
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 is expected to makelandfall.
Bijli is not expected to be as strong as Nargis, and some of the terrain ismore hilly in the forecast strike area. However, there is potential fordevastating flooding this weekend, lasting into early next week. The storm alsohas potential to displace thousands of residents, and there is a significantrisk for loss of life in western Myanmar and southeastern Bangladesh.
Story by AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist Rob Miller
