Cyclones are named by regional meteorological organizations based on guidelines set by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Naming cyclones helps make communication and tracking easier for the public, officials, and media. Here’s how the process works:
1. Regional Committees and Naming Conventions
- The WMO divides the world into regions, each with its own committee responsible for naming tropical cyclones. These regions include the North Atlantic, Eastern North Pacific, Western North Pacific, North Indian Ocean, South-West Indian Ocean, Australian/South-East Indian Ocean, and South Pacific.
- Each region maintains a list of names that are used sequentially for each cyclone that forms in that area.
2. Cyclone Naming in the North Indian Ocean
- For cyclones in the North Indian Ocean (affecting India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, the Maldives, Oman, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and others), the Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre (RSMC) in New Delhi assigns names.
- Each country submits a list of names, and these names are arranged in a rotational order.
- For example, the list for the North Indian Ocean includes names suggested by countries like India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Bangladesh.
3. Criteria for Naming Cyclones
- Names are generally short, easy to pronounce, and culturally sensitive.
- A name is given once a system reaches the strength of a tropical storm, meaning it has sustained winds of at least 63 km/h (39 mph).
- Names used for particularly destructive cyclones are often retired and replaced with a new name.
4. Examples of Recent Names in Different Regions
- Atlantic Ocean: Common names are preselected like Hurricane “Katrina” or “Harvey.”
- Western North Pacific: Names like “Haiyan” and “Mangkhut” were contributed by East Asian countries.
- North Indian Ocean: Recent examples include “Amphan,” “Yaas,” and “Gulab.”
5. Naming Lists Rotation
- Once a list is used up, the names are rotated. However, if a name is retired due to a cyclone’s extreme impact, a new name is added to the list from the respective country that contributed the retired name.
This organized approach to naming cyclones improves clarity and enables easier tracking and reporting, which can be crucial in preparing for potential impacts.
