Cyclone Fengal Got Arabic Roots Behind Its Naming; Know How Cyclonic Storms Are Named, Other Details

Cyclone Fengal, the second severe cyclonic storm of the 2024 Northeast Monsoon season after Cyclone Dana, is poised to strike Tamil Nadu soon. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert, warning of heavy rainfall and strong winds in several coastal districts, including Chennai, Nagapattinam and Puducherry. Fishermen have been cautioned against venturing into the sea as the deep depression over the southwest Bay of Bengal intensifies into a cyclonic storm.

The Regional Meteorological Centre (Chennai) has predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall in districts such as Mayiladuthurai, Tiruvarur, Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kanchipuram, Chengelpet and Cuddalore. Authorities are on high alert, with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) deployed in the region for rescue efforts and to mitigate the potential impact.

How Cyclones Are Named

Since 2004, the naming of cyclones in the North Indian Ocean has followed a system overseen by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP). Each member country submits a list of names, which are used sequentially in alphabetical order. A name is used only once to maintain clarity.

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Story Behind Cyclone Fengal's Name

Cyclone Fengal's name was proposed by Saudi Arabia, reflecting the cultural and linguistic diversity embraced by the WMO’s naming conventions. Rooted in Arabic, "Fengal" is short, unique and easy to pronounce, meeting WMO’s criteria for non-offensive, universally understandable names.

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Upcoming Cyclone Names

After Fengal, the next cyclone will be named "Shakti," proposed by Sri Lanka, followed by ''Mondha" from Thailand.