Tropical Cyclone Mocha developed over the Bay of Bengal on Thursday morning. At 5:00 a.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Tropical Cyclone Mocha was located at latitude 11.2°N and longitude 88.1°E which put it about 310 miles (500 km) west of Port Blair. Mocha was moving toward the north-northwest at 4 m.p.h. (6 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 993 mb.

A low pressure system over the Bay of Bengal strengthened during Wednesday night and the India Meteorological Department classified the system as Tropical Cyclone Mocha. The circulation around Tropical Cyclone Mocha was organizing rapidly on Thursday morning. The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the center of Mocha’s circulation and a large eye appeared to be forming. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the developing inner core of Tropical Cyclone Mocha. Storms near the center of circulation generated strong upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical cyclone. The removal of mass was causing the surface pressure to decrease. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 115 miles (185 km) from the center of Mocha’s circulation.

Tropical Cyclone Mocha will move through an environment very favorable for intensification during the next 48 hours. Mocha will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 30˚C. It will move under the center of an upper level ridge over the Bay of Bengal. The upper level winds are weak near the center of the ridge and there will be little vertical wind shear. Tropical Cyclone Mocha will intensify during the next 48 hours. Mocha could intensify rapidly once the inner core with an eye and eyewall are completely formed. Mocha is likely to intensify to the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon during the next 24 hours. Mocha could intensify to the equivalent of a major hurricane in two or three days.

Tropical Cyclone Mocha will move around the western end of a high pressure system that extends from the Western North Pacific Ocean to Southeast Asia. The high pressure system will steer Mocha toward the north during the next 24 hours. Mocha will start to move toward the north-northeast on Friday after it moves around the western end of the high pressure system. Tropical Cyclone Mocha is likely to make landfall near the border between Bangladesh and Myanmar during the weekend. Mocha could be the equivalent of a major hurricane when it makes landfall. Tropical Cyclone Mocha will bring strong winds and locally heavy rain to Myanmar and Bangladesh. Heavy rain is likely to cause flash floods in some locations. Mocha could also cause a storm surge of up to 10 feet (3 meters) along portions of the coast where the wind blows the water toward the shore.