Home / Environment / Cyclone Arnab: What's in a Name?
Cyclone Arnab: What's in a Name?
25 Oct
Summary
- Cyclone Arnab's name was proposed by Bangladesh.
- Arnab is a Bengali word meaning ocean or sea.
- 13 countries contribute names to the cyclone naming list.
A cyclonic storm, designated 'Arnab,' is forecast to make landfall between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam by the forenoon of October 28, as predicted by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on October 24. The name Arnab, meaning ocean or sea, was proposed by Bangladesh and is included in a list of 169 names adopted in April 2020 by the WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones.
This naming convention involves 13 countries: Bangladesh, India, Iran, Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, UAE, and Yemen. The IMD's Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre in New Delhi is responsible for assigning these names sequentially. The system began in 2004 with eight countries and was revised in 2020.
The cyclone was located over the east-central and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal on October 24. It was predicted to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm before landfall, with sustained winds expected between 115-125 kmph. Authorities in Odisha have prepared rescue teams and evacuation plans for vulnerable areas.
