Cyclone Montha
Context:
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red and orange alerts for 23 districts in Andhra Pradesh as a deep depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal intensified into "Cyclone Montha".
The storm is likely to intensify further into a Severe Cyclonic Storm before it crosses the Andhra Pradesh coast.
The name Montha was contributed by Thailand.
Montha in Thai language means fragrant flower or beautiful flower.
Naming of Tropical Cyclones (North Indian Ocean)
Cyclones in the North Indian Ocean region are named by the Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre (RSMC), New Delhi, operated by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) under the supervision of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).
The WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones (PTC) maintains a list of names provided by its 13 member countries that includes Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Yemen, Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Each country submits a list of 13 names. Together, they form a pool of 169 names. When a new cyclone forms, IMD picks the next name on the list.
Purpose:
Naming helps in the quick and easy identification of storms.
This makes it easier for the media to report on them
It also increases community preparedness and awareness.
Types of Cyclones
Tropical Cyclones are large-scale weather systems that develop over tropical or subtropical waters, between the Tropics of Capricorn and Cancer.
They are known by different names globally:
Hurricanes: In the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea.
Typhoons: In the China Sea and Pacific Ocean.
Tropical Cyclones: In the Indian Ocean.
Extra-tropical Cyclones (Temperate Cyclones):
These cyclones occur in temperate zones and high-latitude regions.
Classification Based on Severity (IMD)
The IMD classifies low-pressure systems based on wind speed:
Type of Disturbance
Wind Speed (Km/h)
Depression
31-49
Deep Depression
49-61
Cyclonic Storm
61-88
Severe Cyclonic Storm
88-117
Super Cyclone
More than 221