As Cyclone Tauktae is expected to hit the Gujarat coast on May 18, recent updates says that the Cyclone has intensified into a “very severe cyclonic storm” over Eastcentral Arabian Sea and is very likely to intensify further during the next 12 hours, said the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday. It is very likely to move north-northwestwards and reach Gujarat coast in the evening hours of May 17 and cross Gujarat coast between Porbandar and Mahuva (Bhavnagar district) around May 18 early morning.
The name Tauktae has been recently attracting attention. The name is suggested by Myanmar which means a vocal lizard in the Burmese language. Let us know what cyclones are in the first place.
The term ‘Cyclone’ comes from the Greek word Cyclos’ which means a coiling snake. It is a system of wind rotating inwards in around a low-pressure area. Caused by atmospheric disturbance, cyclones are usually accompanied by severe weather conditions such as storms.
When the speed of a storm wind reaches or crosses 74 mph then it is considered to be a Cyclone, hurricane, or typhoon. Only when a storm becomes a Cyclone it is given a name.
How are Cyclones named?
Generally, tropical Cyclones are named, according to regional rules. For example, in the Atlantic and the Southern hemisphere which includes the Indian ocean and South Pacific, names are given in alphabetical order or it is based on the names of men and women which are alternated.
What are the bodies responsible for naming the cyclones?
• ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee
• WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones
• RA I Tropical Cyclone Committee
• RA IV Hurricane Committee
• RA V Tropical Cyclone Committee