Muscat: As Dhofar braces itself for the approaching Cyclone Tej, the latest satellite images provided by the NationalMulti Hazards & Early Warning Center said that this impending storm may intensify into a Category 4 cyclone later this evening. Cyclone Tej is currently on a path to make landfall in Yemen on October 24, 2023.
The name 'Tej,' which means 'speed' in Hindi, was chosen by India and is a part of the list of storm names adopted by a 13-member panel representing countries in the region in April 2020.
The name 'Tej,' which means 'speed' in Hindi, was chosen by India.
The process of naming cyclones involves careful consideration to ensure that the names remain neutral, avoiding any political or religious connotations. They must not hurt the sentiments of any community and should be short, easy to pronounce, and have eight letters or fewer.
The 13 member countries, including Bangladesh,India, Iran, Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and others, select the names for cyclones every few years, and they are used in chronological order. After Cyclone Tej, it is Iran and Maldives that will have the honor of naming the following storms.
Iran's chosen name is 'Hamoon,' and Maldives has named the next cyclone 'Midhili.' The last cyclone on the list was Cyclone Biparjoy, named by Bangladesh, which made landfall in India’s Gujarat as an extremely severe cyclonic storm in mid-June.
The practice of naming storms began arbitrarily, but in the mid-1900s, it was decided to use feminine names for storms. Later, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) introduced the alternating use of both men's and women's names. In cases where a cyclone proves exceptionally devastating or costly, the WMO may decide to retire its name out of sensitivity, and a new name takes its place.
Hasik in the Wilayat of Sadah on Sunday began to see the flow of stratiform clouds heralding rain.
Latest Updates about the Tropical System in Arabian Sea Tropical cyclone classified as category 3 named Tej is located south west of Arabian Sea, now situated at approximately 12.6... pic.twitter.com/VOLfIQIBpV
— Oman Observer (@OmanObserver) October 22, 2023
The naming of cyclones in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea was officially agreed upon during the 27th Session of the WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones in 2000, held in Muscat,Oman.
As per forecast from Oman Met Office, Tej will continue to move west-northwest towards the coasts of Dhofar governorate and the Republic of Yemen (Al Mahra) and is likely to further intensify into aCategory 4 cyclone within the upcoming 24 hours around 4 pm on Sunday. It will be downgraded to Category 3 around 4 am on Monday, further weakening toCategory 2 before making landfall as Category 1 probably in Yemen on Tuesday.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
