Cyclone Michaung: When Will It Make Landfall? Know How It Got Its Name And Was Formed

Cyclone Michaung: A depression that had formed over southeast and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal on December 1, 2023, intensified into a deep depression over southwest Bay of Bengal on December 2, and moved west-northwestwards. On December 3, the deep depression over the southwest Bay of Bengal moved northwestwards with a speed of five kilometres per hour for six hours, and intensified into a cyclonic storm called Michaung. As of 5:30 am IST on December 3, the cyclonic storm lay centred at a region about 310 kilometres southeast of Chennai, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

A tropical cyclone is an intense circular storm that originates over warm tropical oceans, is characterised by low atmospheric pressure, high winds and heavy rain, draws energy from the sea surface, and maintains its strength as long as it remains over warm water. 

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A tropical cyclone is simply called a “cyclone” in the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea, a “severe tropical cyclone” in the western South Pacific and southeast Indian Ocean, a “tropical cyclone” in the southwest Indian Ocean, a “typhoon” in the western North Pacific, and a “hurricane” in the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico, the eastern and central North Pacific Ocean, and the North Atlantic Ocean. 

The IMD has forecast that the cyclonic storm is likely to continue to move northwestwards, intensify further, and reach west-central Bay of Bengal off south Andhra Pradesh, and adjoining north Tamil Nadu by the afternoon of December 4. 

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After this, the cyclonic storm will move northwards, and will be parallel to the coast off south Andhra Pradesh. 

During the morning of December 5, the cyclonic storm will cross the south Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Machilipatnam.

At that time, the cyclonic storm will have a maximum wind speed of 80 to 90 kilometres per hour. In other words, Michaung is expected to make landfall in Andhra Pradesh on December 5. 

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The IMD has issued a warning of the likelihood of heavy to very heavy rainfall over Chennai, north-coastal Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry on December 3, and heavy to very heavy rainfall over Chennai and Vellore, among other regions, on December 4. 

Fishermen have been advised to steer clear of southwest Bay of Bengal, and the north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts till December 5, west-central Bay of Bengal and the Andhra Pradesh coast till December 6, and the coast of South Odisha from the evening of December 4 to December 6. 

Huts and vulnerable structures are expected to be damaged, trees may be uprooted, power and communication lines may be disrupted, sea water may collect in low-lying areas, leading to erosion, flash floods may occur, traffic may be caused, landslides may happen, and riverine flooding may occur in some river catchments.

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How cyclone Michaung got its name

Each tropical cyclone basin has a rotating list of names maintained by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). A cyclone’s name is retired and replaced by another in the cases where the storm is particularly deadly. 

Generally, tropical cyclones are named according to rules at the regional level.

The list of names to be assigned to tropical cyclones formed in the northern Indian Ocean basin, where the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal flow, was determined in 2000.

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From September 2004, the naming of tropical cyclones over the Northern Indian Ocean began.

The names are listed alphabetically country wise, and are neutral gender wise. These names are used sequentially column wise. 

According to the WMO, the first name started from the first row of column one, and has been continuing sequentially. It will be continued to the last row in column thirteen. 

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There is a rule that the names of tropical cyclones over the Northern Indian ocean will not be repeated, and once used, they will cease to be used again.

The cyclone which formed over the Northern Indian Ocean Basin after Midhili, a name given by Maldives, has been named Michaung. The name Michaung was given by Myanmar. The next cyclone will be called Remal. It is a name given by Oman.

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How a tropical cyclone is formed

A transfer of water vapour and heat from the warm ocean to the overlying air serves as the fuel for a tropical cyclone. Evaporation from the sea surface causes this transfer of water vapour and heat from the warm ocean. The warm air expands and cools as it rises. Eventually, it becomes saturated and releases latent heat through the condensation of water vapour. 

This process warms and moistens the column of air in the core of the developing disturbance, according to Britannica. There is a temperature difference between the warm, rising air, and the surrounding cooler environment. This difference causes the rising air to become buoyant, which further enhances the upward movement of the warm air.

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