The India Meteorological Department said Cyclone Arnab turned into a very severe cyclonic storm. It will likely cross Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts by the forenoon of 28th October, 2026. Bangladesh submitted the name Arnab. Naming storms helps meteorologists track them easily and avoids confusion during active weather events.
About Arnab:
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) in a social media post stated that ‘Arnab’, pronounced as Ornab, has turned into a “very Severe Cyclonic Storm.”
In a tweet shared at 2:50 am on October 27, the climate-monitoring agency said, “It is very likely to continue to move west-northwestwards till evening of 27th October and thereafter, it is very likely to move northwestwards and cross Andhra Pradesh & Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, close to Yanam as a very severe cyclonic storm with the maximum sustained wind speed of 115-125 kmph gusting to 140 kmph by forenoon of 28th October, 2026.”
Here is a look at the history, meaning, and global rules that shape tropical cyclone naming protocols.
With a name attached to a cyclone, it becomes easier to track it and discuss it, especially in cases when multiple storms become active simultaneously. Furthermore, naming a cyclone helps avoid confusion among the meteorologists and emergency agencies.
How did cyclone naming evolve?
WMO said that earlier there was no specific method for selecting the names, and they were assigned haphazardly. Then they were identified by their latitude and longitude. However, they were lengthy and error-prone, which led to the need for short, distinctive names that were easier to remember and communicate.
In the middle of the 20th century, the trend for using female names for storms emerged. Then, to create a more organised and efficient system, meteorologists in the North Atlantic decided to name cyclones using alphabetical lists.
Eventually, the National Hurricane Center, a division of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), provided a list of names for Atlantic tropical cyclones in 1953. In 1979, male names were also included in the list.
Who decides the name?
The relevant tropical cyclone regional body determines names for tropical cyclones in its annual/biennial session. The 5 bodies are:
Factors considered while selecting a name:
Each nation has submitted a designated list of names, which are used sequentially to identify emerging cyclones. The name “Arnab”, pronounced “Ornab”, was submitted by Bangladesh.
After Arnab: What will be the name of the next cyclone?
Here’s what the next 12 cyclones after Arnab will be named, along with the countries that submitted the monikers.
WMO states, “In some places like the Atlantic and Southern Hemisphere, cyclones are named alphabetically, alternating men's and women's names. In other regions, names follow the alphabetical order of the countries.”