Cyclone Montha: Andhra Pradesh, Odisha is bracing for a landfall as Cyclone Montha approaches Kankinada, with the storm likely to intensify into a ‘severe cyclonic storm’ (SCS) and cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam during Tuesday evening and night on October 28, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.
How did Cyclone Montha get its name?
Cyclones in the North Indian Ocean region get their respective names from a predetermined list submitted by countries in the region. The last cyclone of the season – “Cyclone Montha” – was named after Thailand, one of the 13 member countries that contribute to the naming of cyclones in the northern Indian Ocean region.
What does “Moon” mean?
In the Thai language, “Montha” means fragrant flower or beautiful flower.
Cyclones in the North Indian Ocean region are named by the Regional Specialized Meteorological Center (RSMC) in Delhi – operated by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) – under the supervision of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).
Storm names are used in rotation and are not to be reused once assigned to a cyclone. The first cyclonic storm of the season was named “Shakhti”, suggested by Sri Lanka.
