Cyclone Tauktae & Other Cyclones In India During 2020-21

As India fights the 2nd wave of COVID-19, Cyclone Tauktae has knocked at our doorsteps with devastation. Tauktae had its landfall recently in Gujarat and is bringing its trademark drizzles and flash floods along with it. Coastal areas in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa and Kerala are most affected. The cyclone has limited the mobility of masses even further, ongoing the vaccination drives have been called off today and the air transport carrying essential medical supplies has taken a hit due to the dilapidating weather conditions. Let’s know more about Tauktae and other cyclones in India during 2020-21.

Causes and location of Tauktae

“The North Indian Ocean has two tropical cyclone seasons – one centered in May, before the onset of the monsoon, and the other centered in October/November, after the monsoon has waned. During the June-September peak of the monsoon, tropical cyclones are uncommon because of interference from the monsoon circulation. But the evidence suggests that there was a detectable increase in post-monsoon extremely severe cyclonic storms in the Arabian Sea.”

And as Tauktae formed during the pre-monsoon season (May), these conclusions do not directly apply to the storm. Researchers feel that human-caused climate change (increased average temperature) contributed to the untimely formation of the cyclones in India.

Naming of Cyclone Tauktae

It is the strongest cyclone in West Coast of India and the state of Gujarat since 1998 Gujarat cyclone. Tauktae originated from a tropical disturbance which was first monitored by the Indian Meteorological Department on May 13 and was named Tauktae. In the Burmese language, ‘Tauktae’ is basically a ‘gecko’ which is a highly vocal lizard. Indian Meteorological Department stated that the right pronunciation is ‘Tau’Te’ and the ‘k’ is silent in the name. 

Who gives the name to Cyclones?

• Cyclones are named by World Meteorological Organization and United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific’s panel on Tropical Cyclones.
• This consists of thirteen countries that get a chance to name it on a rotational basis. Those countries are India, Bangladesh, the Maldives, Myanmar, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Oman, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Yemen, and Iran. 

List of Cyclones That Hit India during 2020-21

In the year 2020, first pre-monsoon Cyclone Amphan hit India. Another Cyclone, Nisarga, hit the financial capital of India and was the second pre-monsoon cyclone after Amphan. Below is the list of cyclones that hit the Indian states in 2020-2021. 

Latest Entrant – Yaas

Cyclone Yaas cruised north-northwestward and cross Odisha’s coast around the noon of May 26 as a very severe cyclonic storm. This is almost a week after another extremely severe cyclone, Tauktae, hit the western coast of the country. Cyclonic storm Yaas has made landfall a year after super cyclone Amphan ravaged India’s eastern coast. In the last four years, the Bay alone has seen at least 12 cyclonic storms.

1. Cyclone Tauktae

The first cyclonic storm of 2021 that emerged from the Arabian Sea. It hit southern Gujarat on 17 May 2021 and is classified as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm (VSCS).  States directly impacted are Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, and Gujarat.

2. Cyclone Nisarga

The second pre-monsoon cyclone that emerged from the Arabian Sea. It was the first cyclone to impact Mumbai since Phyan of 2009.

3. Cyclone Amphan

Cyclone Amphan was a  powerful tropical cyclone that impacted the Indian states of Odisha and West Bengal in 2020. Cyclone Amphan was the first pre-monsoon super cyclone of this century that emerged from the Bay of Bengal.

4. Cyclone Kyarr 

Cyclone Kyarr was the second-strongest tropical cyclone since cyclone Gonu in 2007. Cyclone Kyarr developed in the Arabian Sea and moved towards the Gulf of Aden from the Indian coast. It hit Western India, Oman, UAE, Socotra and Somalia. 

5. Cyclone Maha

Cyclone Maha was an extremely severe cyclonic storm that became very intense while moving parallel to the Indian coast. The cyclone weakened when it approached Gujarat. Cyclone Maha made landfall near Gujarat as a depression that weakened afterwards. 

6. Cyclone Vayu

Cyclone Vayu emerged from the Arabian Sea and was a very severe cyclonic storm that caused moderate damage to lives and property in the state of Gujarat. Cyclone Vayu was the strongest cyclone that hit the state since the 1998 Gujarat Cyclone. Along with India, cyclone Vayu also affected Maldives, Pakistan and Oman.  

7. Cyclon Hikka

Cyclone Hikka emerged from the Arabian Sea and turned intense and hit Oman. In 2019, 4 cyclones emerged from the Arabian Sea – Kyarr, Maha, Vayu and Hikka. 

8. Cyclone Fani

Cyclone Fani was the strongest tropical storm that hit Odisha since the 1998 Odisha Cyclone. Cyclone Fani emerged from the Indian Ocean and caused huge destruction of lives and property in Odisha, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and East India. Outside India, it hit Bangladesh, Bhutan and Sri Lanka. 

9. BOB 03

A depression was formed in the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Meteorological Department named it BOB 03. The very next day after the identification, the BOB 03 hit the north Odisha-West Bengal coastline and caused huge destruction of lives and property. 

10. Cyclone Bulbul

Cyclone Bulbul was a very severe cyclonic storm that hit West Bengal in India. It caused huge rainfall, floods, etc. that resulted in the destruction of lives and property. Outside India, it hit Bangladesh. 

That’s all we have for you in this blog Tauktae and Cyclones in India in 2020-21. Stay indoors and stay safe.

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