Daily News Analysis ‘Cyclone Ditwah’ : 28 November

Why in News?

Cyclone Ditwah has recently struck Sri Lanka killing dozens and displacing tens of thousands and is now heading toward South-India’s east coast.

A cyclone is a large rotating storm system that forms over warm ocean waters with low atmospheric pressure at the centre.
It brings very strong winds, heavy rainfall, storm surges, and coastal flooding.
In the Indian Ocean region, such storms are called tropical cyclones.

Cyclone names in the Indian Ocean region are assigned as per the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) regional agreement.
The naming list is prepared by countries in the North Indian Ocean region, including India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Oman, and others.
Each country contributes a set of names in advance.
The name “Ditwah” was taken from this pre-approved list.
Once a cyclone becomes strong enough to reach the cyclonic storm stage, the next name on the list is assigned.
Naming helps in easy identification, clear communication, early warning, and disaster management.

It avoids confusion when multiple cyclones exist at the same time.
It helps media, governments, and disaster agencies communicate warnings clearly.
It improves public awareness and evacuation preparedness.
It supports international coordination during disaster response.

The Bay of Bengal experiences two main cyclone seasons every year.
The pre-monsoon cyclone season occurs from April to June.
The post-monsoon cyclone season occurs from October to December.
The post-monsoon season is the most active and dangerous period for cyclones in the Bay of Bengal.

The Bay of Bengal has very warm sea surface temperatures, which provide energy for cyclone formation.
It receives large freshwater inflow from major rivers, which increases atmospheric instability.
The region has favourable wind patterns for cyclone intensification.
The surrounding coastlines are low-lying and densely populated, increasing vulnerability.