The first named cyclone of the year, Arnab the cyclone made landfall along the coast of Andhra Pradesh bringing with it strong winds and heavy rainfall.

The storm was noticed to be brewing on October 25 by the Indian Meteorological Department’s (IMD) regional specialised meteorological centre. Cyclone Arnab’s peak sustained winds reached 125-1135 km/h and the strongest gusts of wind clocked 150 km/h.

While the storm’s impact is being felt on the ground, its name was decided long before it approached the Indian coastline.

So, who names cyclones, and why?

Who named Arnab? And, how does a storm qualify for a cyclone designation?

The name Arnab was suggested by Bangladesh and is pronounced ‘Ornab’. In Bengali, the word represents ocean/sea.…