The Northern Indian Ocean’s Arabian Sea is currently witnessing the wrath of Cyclone Kyarr, a powerful tropical cyclone that has intensified to a Category 4 storm. Originating west of India, Cyclone Kyarr has generated winds with speeds as high as 150 mph. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has officially recognized it as the first Super Cyclonic storm in the Arabian Sea in over a decade. Its trajectory is expected to move north-west towards the Oman coast. In terms of nomenclature, the storm has been named by Myanmar. These stated facts qualify Cyclone Kyarr as the second most intense tropical cyclone ever recorded in the history of the Northern Indian Ocean’s Arabian Sea.
Super Cyclonic Storm in a Decade: The Intensity of Cyclone Kyarr
Cyclone Kyarr’s intensity has drawn comparisons with other tropical cyclones recorded earlier in the Arabian Sea, and it ranks second only to the monstrous category 5 Tropical Cyclone Gonu of 2007. Outperforming Kyarr, Gonu had maximum wind speeds reaching 165 mph. This makes Cyclone Gonu still the most powerful storm ever recorded in the Arabian Sea.
Cyclone Kyarr vs. Previous Cylones
Apart from Cyclone Kyarr, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has documented only four other Category 4 or stronger tropical cyclones in the Arabian Sea since 1998.
| Cyclone Name | Year | Wind Speed |
|---|---|---|
| Gonu | 2007 | 165 mph |
| Phet | 2010 | 145 mph |
| Chapala | 2015 | 140 mph |
| Nilofar | 2014 | 130 mph |
Naming of Cyclone Kyarr
The responsibility of naming the cyclone was bestowed on Myanmar. It’s worth noting that the naming of tropical cyclones follows a systematic approach established by the World Meteorological Organization. Countries in a region devise a list of names that are assigned in sequential order to cyclones as they occur.
Predicted Path Towards Oman Coast
As per projections by meteorological departments, Cyclone Kyarr is moving along a path towards the north-west, heading for the Oman coast. This prediction is significant because coastal areas need to prepare and take precautions to manage the potential fallout from this super cyclonic storm.
