Tropical Cyclone Mocha intensified to the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon over the Bay of Bengal on Thursday night. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Tropical Cyclone Mocha was located at latitude 13.6°N and longitude 88.3°E which put it about 670 miles (1080 km) south-southwest of Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. Mocha was moving toward the north at 7 m.p.h. (11 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 90 m.p.h. (145 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 981 mb.

Tropical Cyclone Mocha intensified rapidly to the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon on Thursday. The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the center of Mocha’s circulation. An eye was evident at the center of Tropical Cyclone Mocha on microwave satellite images. The eye was surrounded by a ring of strong thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Mocha’s circulation. Storms near the center of circulation generated strong upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical cyclone. The removal of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease steadily. Winds to hurricane/typhoon force extended out 35 miles (55 km) from the center of Tropical Cyclone Mocha. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 200 miles (320 km) from the center of Mocha’s circulation.

Tropical Cyclone Mocha will move through an environment very favorable for intensification during the next 36 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 36 hours. Mocha could intensify rapidly at times. Mocha is likely to intensify to the equivalent of a major hurricane within 36 hours .

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-northeast during the next 48 hours. Tropical Cyclone Mocha is likely to make landfall near the border between Bangladesh and Myanmar during the weekend. Mocha is likely to 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 13 feet (4 meters) along portions of the coast where the wind blows the water toward the shore.