The deep depression over Andaman Sea, retreats its threat of turning in to a freaky cyclone. Danger of tropical storm striking Myanmar, the 1st of its kind at this time of the year, was looming large. Menace has been averted and the weather system is no more intensifying to match grade of a cyclonic storm. On the contrary, it may further loose its steam before making landfall along Arakan coast.
The deep depression over the North Andaman Sea and East Bay of Bengal, was centered around 15.2°N and 94°E, moving fairly fast with speed of 15kmph. The system is at a safe distance of about 400km from Port Blair and heading towards coastal town of Bassein ( Myanmar). It is still about 300km southwest of Yangon, across Gulf of Martaban. The system is expected to weaken further and brush extreme southern tip of ‘Arakan Yoma’, the western coast of Myanmar.
The depression had earlier lashed Bay Islands, right from Nancowry to Maya Bandar, dumping heavy rains over Car Nicobar and Long Islands enroute. Moving nearly northward, the weather system came across reduced low level convergence and increased vertical wind shear, suppressing its further intensification. Heat potential is also expected to drop, resulting weakening of system to a depression, before making landfall.
This was a freak and rare system, threatening to become a cyclone in this area, first ever of its kind. However, it also met the same fate, as one of its predecessor in the year 2000. That storm got diffused over the open waters of North Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal, about 400km away from the shore. Heavy to very heavy rains accompanied with squally winds will impact, off and along Arakan Coast for the next 24hr. The intensity will ease out later causing scattered moderate rains tomorrow and minimal effect thereafter on 24thMarch.