Cyclone Mocha: A Very Severe Storm

Cyclone Mocha live

According to officials from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the first cyclonic storm of the year formed in the North Indian Ocean region on Thursday, May 11th. The storm, named Cyclone Mocha, has become a very severe cyclonic storm over the southeastern and nearby central areas of the Bay of Bengal, as per the officials.

More About the News

• The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed eight teams and 200 rescuers in West Bengal, with 100 rescuers on standby.
• The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has placed its units in the region on high alert.
• The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that the cyclone will gradually intensify into a severe cyclone by Sunday.
• Cyclone Mocha is expected to make landfall along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border, with winds of up to 150-160 km per hour.
• The IMD has issued an alert for a storm surge of 1.5-2 meters for the low-lying coastal region of Bangladesh near Cox’s Bazaar.
• Fishermen and travelers have been warned not to venture into the central and northeast Bay of Bengal and the north Andaman Sea till Sunday.
• Emergency operation centers are working round the clock to handle any natural calamities.
• Alert has been issued for some northeastern states and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as well under the influence of the weather system.
• Tripura and Mizoram are likely to get heavy showers tomorrow onwards, while Nagaland, Manipur, and south Assam will also witness rain at isolated places on Sunday.

What is a Cyclone?

• A cyclone is a type of weather phenomenon characterized by strong rotating winds around a low-pressure center.
• Cyclones can form over tropical and subtropical ocean regions and are often accompanied by heavy rains, thunderstorms, storm surges, and flooding.
• Cyclones are also known as hurricanes in the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific Oceans, typhoons in the Western Pacific Ocean, and tropical cyclones in the Indian Ocean and Australian region.
• These storms can cause significant damage to infrastructure, property, and agriculture, and can result in loss of life if proper precautions are not taken.

Categories of Cyclones

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) categorizes cyclones in the North Indian Ocean into the following categories based on their maximum sustained wind speed:

1. Cyclonic Storm: wind speed of 62-88 km/hr
2. Severe Cyclonic Storm: wind speed of 89-117 km/hr
3. Very Severe Cyclonic Storm: wind speed of 118-165 km/hr
4. Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm: wind speed of 166-221 km/hr
5. Super Cyclonic Storm: wind speed exceeding 221 km/hr

These categories help in providing a clearer picture of the intensity of a cyclone and the potential damage it can cause. The IMD uses these categories to issue warnings and alerts to people and authorities in the affected areas, allowing them to take necessary precautions and prepare for the cyclone.

How was Cyclone named Mocha?

• Cyclones are named to avoid confusion and make communication about them easier.
• The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) manages a rotating list of names for cyclones in different regions.
• The names are suggested by countries in the region where the cyclone is forming.
• The suggested names are then approved by the WMO, and the cyclone is named accordingly.
• The name ‘Mocha’ was suggested by Yemen, which is a small fishing village in the country known for its coffee production.
• Hence, the upcoming cyclone was named Cyclone Mocha (Mokha) based on Yemen’s suggestion.

• 3 August Current Affairs 2023 in English
• MoU Between Subroto Mukerjee Sports and Education Society and All India Football Federation (AIFF) to Promote Football at Grassroot Level
• Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya Delivers Keynote Address at the 13th Indian Organ Donation Day ceremony
• Education Ministry Forms Expert Panel on Anti-Discrimination in Higher Education
• Concerns Arise Over Cheetah Deaths at Kuno National Park

FAQs