Tauktae Cyclone | How Serious Is The Storm? How Did The Name ‘Tauktae’ Emerge?

Is cyclone Tauktae named after a lizard? Read on to know the severity of the storm.

The depression formed in the Arabian Sea is developed into a severe storm. The cyclone is currently 150 kms Southwest of Goa, 490 Km South of Mumbai and 730 Km South of Veraval in Gujarat. (Image: ANI Twitter)

Chennai: The depression formed in the Arabian Sea is developed into a severe storm. The cyclone is currently 150 kms Southwest of Goa, 490 Km South of Mumbai and 730 Km South of Veraval in Gujarat. The Met officials said that the storm will cross the border between Porbandar and Bhavnagar in the wee hours of 18 May.

How did the name 'Tauktae' emerge?

The name 'Tauktae' was given by Myanmar, meaning "Gecko" — A vocal lizard in Burmese. Albeit the name of the storm is 'Tauktae' in English, it should be pronounced 'Tau Te'. 

#CycloneTauktae will hit Indian coasts soon. Do you know what it’s name means. ‘Tauktae' (pronounced as Tau’Te), a name given by #Myanmar, means highly vocal lizard #GECKO.

The cyclone names are given by countries on rotation basis in region.@mcbbsr pic.twitter.com/AakbZva8gr

— Parveen Kaswan, IFS (@ParveenKaswan) May 15, 2021

Cyclones are officially named by one of the warning centres spread across the globe under the aegis of World Meteorological Organisation. This naming system for storms was introduced in 2004. India, Bangladesh, Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Thailand have agreed to his naming system of cyclones in the Indian Ocean. Each country published a list of 13 names and storms will be named according to the list. 

How serious is 'Tauktae' storm?

 Generally, storms are separated by wind speed:

• Depression: Wind speed ranges from 50-61 kmph.
• Storm: Wind speed ranges from 62-88 kmph.
• Severe storm: Wind speed ranges from 89-117 kmph.
• Extreme storm: Wind speed ranges from 118-166 kmph.
• Severe storm: Wind speed ranges from 167-221 kmph.
• Super storm: Wind speed exceeding 222 kmph.

Currently, 'Tauktae' is an Extreme storm as the wind speed can range from 118-166 km/h. The Meteorological department has warned fisherman to not go fishing in the Arabian Sea until May 18.