Cyclone Nivar

Cyclone Nivar is the third name to be used from the new list and the name was suggested by Iran. As per reports, ‘Nivar’ means light in Persian. Nivar is all set to be the first cyclone to hit Tamil Nadu after Gaja in November 2018. It is likely to cross Tamil Nadu coast near Puducherry in the early hours of Thursday, November 26 as a ‘very severe’ cyclonic storm with wind speeds of 120-130 Kmph gusting to 145 Kmph.

Tamil Nadu and Puducherry are gearing up for Cyclone Nivar, which has intensified into a “severe cyclonic storm”, and is expected to intensify further into “very severe cyclonic storm”.

The cyclone, accompanied by heavy rain and strong winds, is expected to cross the coast between Tamil Nadu and Puducherry before dawn on Thursday, the India Meteorological Department said. Nivar would cross over between Karaikal in Puducherry and Mamallapuram in Tamil Nadu "during the midnight of November 25 and early hours of 26 November."

In view of the cyclone, several trains and flights have been cancelled. The state government has declared a public holiday on Thursday for 13 districts including Chennai.

As per the WMO guidelines, if a cyclone is particularly deadly or costly, the name is retired and never used again for any other hurricane. As per the WMO records, infamous storm names such as Mangkhut (the Philippines, 2018), Irma and Maria (the Caribbean, 2017), Haiyan (the Philippines, 2013), Sandy (the USA, 2012), Katrina (the USA, 2005), Mitch (Honduras, 1998) and Tracy (Darwin, 1974) are some of the names of hurricanes that are retired now.

Fortunately, Nivar is not forecast to reach up to such high intensity. However, a substantial impact like floods, strong winds and storm surge are expected across Tamil Nadu and south Andhra Pradesh districts on Thursday.

Cyclone Nivar is set to sweep Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and southern Karnataka with heavy rains, strong winds and coastal flooding on Wednesday and Thursday. Amphan, Fani, Titli, Bulbul, Ocki and Gaja... In the past few years, India has witnessed quite a few strong cyclones, thanks to the warming waters over the North Indian Ocean. But, one may wonder why and how these devastating storms are given such catchy names.