Five to seven feet high storm surge associated with a maximum wind speed of 150-160 kmph may hit the low-lying areas of the country’s coastal belt under the influence of the very severe cyclonic storm “bulbul”.

Strong wind speed reaching 130-140 kmph gusting to 155 kmph is prevailing over west central and adjoining east central Bay of Bengal around the system centre, forecasted Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).

It is very likely to increase gradually and become 150-160 kmph gusting to 175 kmph by tonight over northwest and adjoining west central Bay of Bengal for subsequent 12 hours and decrease gradually thereafter, it said.

Meanwhile, the Met office in Bangladesh has issued danger signal no-7 for Mongla and Payra seaports, signal-6 for Chattogram and signal-4 for Cox’s Bazar.

The severe cyclonic storm was moving towards the coastal belt with maximum sustained wind speed of 110-120kmph gusting to 135kmph, IMD said on Friday noon.

It will trigger flooding, 5-7feet storm surge, torrential rain and strong winds across the coastal belt of Bangladesh while light to torrential rain may occur across the country, meteorologists predicted.

‘Bulbul’  is located currently over the west central and adjoining east central Bay of Bengal, moved northwards with a speed of 17kmph during past 6 hours, and was centered at 2:30pm on Friday over west central and adjoining east central Bay, the IMD forecasted.

“It is very likely to intensify further till early morning on Saturday and very likely to move nearly northwards,”the IMD also said.

Bhola, Barguna, Patuakhali, Barishal, Pirojpur, Jhalakathi, Bagerhat, Khulna, Satkhira and their offshore islands and chars will come under danger signal-7.

Under the influence of the storm, the low-lying areas of the coastal districts are likely to be inundated by storm surges of 4-5 feet height.

Chattogram, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur and their offshore islands and chars will come under danger signal-6.