The cyclonic storm Montha, brewing over the Bay of Bengal, is likely to cross the coast of India’s Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday evening or night, according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD). Meteorologist Md Tariful Newaz Kabir said the storm, located over the southwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining southeast Bay, has been moving north-northwest and is now situated over the southwest Bay and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal. The Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre (ESCAP) named the storm Montha -- a name given by Thailand, meaning “beautiful” or “fragrant flower”. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said Montha may intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by midnight Monday (Bangladesh time) and could barrel into the Andhra Pradesh coast on Tuesday evening or night. A weather system is classified as a cyclonic storm when the maximum sustained wind speed near its centre exceeds 62kph.
