According to official classifications from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), no storm named Cyclone Arnab actually exists in the Bay of Bengal
Social media feeds and digital headlines are abuzz with warnings about “Cyclone Arnab” barrelling towards the eastern coast of India. However, according to official classifications from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), no storm named Cyclone Arnab actually exists in the Bay of Bengal.
The weather system currently impacting the region is scientifically classified as a “Deep Depression”. While it brings heavy deluges and gusty winds to Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and West Bengal, it has not met the strict meteorological thresholds required to earn an official cyclone name.
The 63 km/h Line: How Weather Systems Are Classified
The distinction between a deep depression and a cyclonic storm comes down to wind speed and atmospheric pressure patterns. The India Meteorological Department follows precise scientific parameters to categorise low-pressure systems forming over the North Indian Ocean:
- Depression: Maximum sustained surface winds range between 31 and 50 km/h (17 to 27 knots), featuring two closed isobars.
- Deep Depression: Maximum sustained surface winds reach between 52 and 61 km/h (28 to 33 knots), with three closed isobars.
- Cyclonic Storm: Surface winds must cross the threshold of 63 km/h (34 knots) or higher, accompanied by four or more closed isobars.
The current system peaking over the Bay of Bengal remains capped at deep depression strength. Because sustained wind speeds have not crossed the mandatory 63 km/h limit, meteorologists cannot officially assign it a name.
Where Did the Name ‘Arnab’ Come From?
The name “Arnab”—which translates to “ocean” in Bengali—is simply the next available name on the regional tropical cyclone master list. Contributed by Bangladesh, the moniker sits in the official roster maintained by the World Meteorological Organization and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (WMO/ESCAP) panel.
The master list features names submitted by 13 member nations, including India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, the Maldives, and Oman. Names are pre-assigned in a strict sequential order. Whenever a weather system over the North Indian Ocean reaches cyclonic storm intensity, the next name in line is activated. “Arnab” remains parked at the top of the queue, waiting for the first true cyclone of the season to claim it.
