On Monday, the first cyclone is expected to hit the North Indian Ocean region in March since 2000. If this happens, the cyclonic storm will be called “Asani”, which is the name given by Sri Lanka. Ship services have been suspended in view of Cyclone Asani moving towards Andaman and Nicobar Deep Group. An alert has also been issued to fishermen not to venture into the sea between March 19 and March 22. It has been estimated that Cyclone Asani will reach Andaman and Nicobar via the southeast coast of the Bay of Bengal.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the cyclone is predicted to move northeastwards and approach north Myanmar and southeast Bangladesh coasts on March 22. The Meteorological Department has also predicted heavy rainfall at some places in Andaman. Heavy rain has also been predicted at isolated places over Nicobar Islands.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Dr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director General, IMD said, “Cyclones in the North Indian Ocean may subside in March but are not rare. We don’t find many fast systems in the month of March. Its maximum intensity is likely to be that of a cyclone with wind speed between 70-80 km/h.
How are storms named?: When the wind speed is 74 mph or more, it is considered a cyclone and based on this speed it is named a cyclone. Cyclones are named by Regional Specialized Meteorological Centers and by the Tropical Cyclone Warning Center.
The RSMC center of the India Meteorological Department is one of the centers that advises 13 countries about the weather and RSMC is the right of naming cyclones in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea.
That is, when a cyclone occurs in India or the above 13 countries, then names are given on the basis of suggestion. It is also necessary to name cyclones so that it remains accessible to the media, scientists and disaster managers.