Cyclone Mocha brewing over Bay of Bengal. Find out the details

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has been constantly tracking a low-pressure cyclonic storm, forming in the East Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea.

The low-pressure system, if intensifies, would be called Cyclone Mocha (Mocha), which is expected to bring heavy rain, thunderstorms and gutsy winds (≧80kph) to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. According to the IMD, the cyclone is expected to hit the Odisha coast on May 10.

The path and the magnitude of the intensity of the low-pressure system are yet to be known and will be shared in the coming days, said the IMD.

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands have been experiencing widespread heavy rainfall along with thunderstorms since yesterday, May 7. As a result, heavy to very heavy scattered rainfall was experienced in parts of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, coastal Tamil Nadu,  Puducherry and Telangana.

According to the IMD, the cyclone is expected to hit the Odisha coast on May 10 bringing thunderstorms and heavy rainfall, whereas neighbouring states of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and Assam would experience isolated rainfall and gusty winds.

IMD advisory

The IMD has issued heavy rain and thunderstorm alerts for Andaman and Nicobar Islands from May 8 to May 12 and has suggested fishermen and tourists refrain to from visiting the shore till May 12. The Met department has also urged the locals and tourists to remain alert and indoors as well as follow any possible instructions for evacuations if needed. Helplines of the State Emergency Operation Centre, District Emergency Operation Centre and Coast Guard have been circulated, said an IMD directive.

Cyclone Mocha's coffee connection

The name of the cyclone is proposed by Yemen after its port city on the Bab-Al-Mandeb, Mocha. The port is said to have exported coffee to Europe and beyond from Ethiopia, Djbouti and inland Yemen between the 15th and 19th centuries, particularly during the Turkish Occupation.

Mocha port once became synonymous with the trade of Yemeni coffee and played a crucial role in establishing coffee's global popularity. Yemen is still known for producing high-quality coffee, but its overall market share is relatively small compared to other coffee-producing countries. However, the historical significance of Mocha port and the Yemeni coffee trade remains integral to coffee's rich cultural and economic history.