Cyclone Mocha Hits Myanmar as a CAT 4 Over the Weekend

news image
Special Stories
17 May 2023 6:19 PM

Cyclone Mocha struck Myanmar on May 14 in Sittwe, Myanmar as the equivalent of a CAT 4 hurricane, bringing widespread damaging winds and storm surge. Storm surge was on the order of 10-12 feet! Local news is reported flooded streets and immense wind damage. There are reports of extensive damage and casualties as a result of the storm.

The CAT 4 struck the area of Cox's Bazar, which is one of the world's largest refugee camps, home to over 1 million refugees in Myanmar. According to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA),

"There is no confirmation yet of damage levels in the northern townships of Maungdaw and Buthidaung where more than half of the shelters are either temporary or semi-permanent, placing households at very high risk in case they were not able to reach evacuation centres."

There are failures in the telecommunication systems, leading to the lack of confirmation of casualties and damage extent. Just ahead of landfall the storm contained winds of 175 mph, the equivalent of a CAT 5 storm. It went under a period of rapid intensification on May 14, and is tied for the strongest cyclone on record in the North Indian Ocean basin.

Atlantic Hurricane Season is only 13 days away - stay with WeatherNation as we bring you the most up to date forecast.

All Weather News
More
Unsettled Weather Across the Plains

Unsettled Weather Across the Plains

An upper-level low has been helping to produc

29 May 2023 4:25 PM
Southern Plains Flood Risk

Southern Plains Flood Risk

Scattered thunderstorms are expected to ignit

29 May 2023 12:55 PM
Heating Up in the Central & Eastern U.S.

Heating Up in the Central & Eastern U.S.

Temperatures for Memorial Day weekend have be

29 May 2023 11:00 AM
Southeast to Mid-Atlantic Low Brings Beach Hazards

Southeast to Mid-Atlantic Low Brings Beach Hazards

An area that the National Hurricane Center wa

29 May 2023 12:20 AM
Active Weather Across the Western U.S.

Active Weather Across the Western U.S.

The western U.S. has been no stranger to rain

29 May 2023 12:20 AM
NOAA Releases 2023 Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook

NOAA Releases 2023 Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administ

27 May 2023 10:45 PM
Florida Thunderstorm Chances Persist through Friday

Florida Thunderstorm Chances Persist through Friday

It has been stormy week in the sunshine state

27 May 2023 1:00 AM