Cyclone Hamoon intensifies into ‘severe’ cyclonic storm, rainfall over northeastern states predicted

Cyclonic storm 'Hamoon' has intensified into a severe cyclonic storm over the Northwest Bay of Bengal, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) informed on Tuesday morning. In addition to this, the weather forecasting agency also reported that the cyclone is likely to continue moving in a nearly north-northeastward direction to cross Bangladesh coast between Khepupara and Chittagong around noon October 25, 2023 as a deep depression.

“Cyclonic Storm Hamoon over Northwest and adjacent West Central Bay of Bengal moved northeast wards with a speed of 18 kmph during past six hours, and lay centered at 2330 hrs IST of 23 Oct over the same region about 200 km southeast of Paradip (Odisha), 290 km south-southeast of Digha (WB),” IMD tweeted. 

Cyclonic Storm Hamoon is likely to intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm over northwest Bay of Bengal during next 6 hours. It's very likely to move nearly north-northeastwards and cross Bangladesh coast b/w Khepupara & Chittagong around noon of 25Oct as a DeepDepression. pic.twitter.com/Z9X09h7fYk

— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) October 23, 2023

It has been learnt that the severe cyclonic storm over the Bay of Bengal is likely to trigger light to moderate rainfall at several locations in the northeastern states of Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Meghalaya and Assam. Coastal districts of Odisha are also likely to get affected with Hamoon as moderate rainfall is anticipated at most places on Tuesday, October 24.

Who named ‘Hamoon’?

The Cyclonic storm has been named Hamoon by Iran. The word ‘Hamoon’ is a Persian word meaning ‘inland desert lakes or marshlands’. They are formed as natural seasonal reservoirs in areas adjoining the Helmand basin. 

The names of cyclones are chosen by different nations. Tropical cyclones forming in Indian oceans are named by 13 member countries based on the adopted sequential orders. As per the protocol, the names proposed by member nations need to be short, easy to pronounce and must not exceed eight letters.