Cyclone Arnab: 140-kmph winds, schools shut in Odisha, states on alert ahead of landfall

The key facts are confirmed by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO): Cyclone Arnab formed over the Bay of Bengal, its name was proposed by Bangladesh, and it was forecast on October 26 to approach the Andhra Pradesh coast on October 28.

Cyclone Arnab has intensified over the Bay of Bengal, putting coastal Andhra Pradesh and parts of Odisha on alert ahead of its forecast landfall on Wednesday, October 28. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that the system could strengthen into a very severe cyclonic storm, bringing powerful winds and heavy rainfall to affected areas.

As governments and disaster management agencies prepare for the storm, its name has also drawn attention. Why is the cyclone called Arnab, who proposed the name, and how does the naming system for tropical cyclones work?

The weather agency forecast that the cyclone could cross the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam by the forenoon of October 28, potentially close to Yanam. The system was expected to intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm, with maximum sustained wind speeds of 115–125 kmph and gusts reaching 140 kmph.

Coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh and parts of Odisha face the risk of heavy rainfall, strong winds and disruptions. The storm's precise track and intensity may change, making updated IMD forecasts and official local advisories important for residents.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has directed district administrations to remain on high alert, establish control rooms and keep residents informed. The state has identified approximately 5.7 lakh people in vulnerable areas who may require evacuation, according to the information provided by state authorities.

Officials have also been directed to prepare rescue teams, remove dangerous hoardings, restrict access to vulnerable coastal areas and ensure that electricity and other essential services can be restored quickly after the storm.

Odisha is preparing to move people from low-lying areas to cyclone shelters. Authorities are also coordinating with disaster response agencies to reduce the risk of casualties and damage.

Residents in potentially affected areas should follow official warnings, avoid the sea and comply with evacuation instructions.

The official list gives its pronunciation as “Ornab”. The name is associated with the Bengali word for the sea or ocean.

However, the name does not indicate that Bangladesh is the cyclone's destination or that the country is responsible for the storm. Names are selected in advance and assigned sequentially under a regional system.

Each country contributed 13 names to the current list, creating a pool of 169 names. These are used sequentially, column by column, as qualifying tropical cyclones develop.

The Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre in New Delhi, operated by the IMD, is responsible for naming qualifying cyclones over the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea.

The system helps meteorologists, governments, emergency services and the public identify individual storms clearly, especially when several weather systems are being monitored simultaneously.Names are not selected according to a cyclone's intensity, expected landfall or potential damage. They are drawn from the pre-approved regional list.

The names on a list are used in sequence, and the list is intended to be used once before a new list takes over; this does not mean that every name is permanently retired after one use.

Cyclone Arnab illustrates how a regional naming system gives storms a distinct identity, while the more immediate priority remains public safety. Forecasts can change as a cyclone develops, so residents should rely on the latest official IMD bulletins and instructions from local authorities.