Mocha is the strongest cyclone on earth so far in this year
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Mocha is the strongest cyclone on earth so far in this year
Subject: Geography
Section: Climatology
Context: Mocha, with a recorded wind speed of 150 knots or 277 kilometres per hour, also became the strongest cyclone in the North Indian Ocean during the pre-monsoon season, tying with Cyclone Fani.
More on the News:
- Cyclone Mocha was a very severe cyclonic storm that formed in the Bay of Bengal on May 10, 2023. The storm intensified rapidly, reaching peak winds of 160 kilometers per hour (100 miles per hour) before making landfall in Bangladesh on May 14. The storm caused widespread damage in Bangladesh and Myanmar.
- IMD had predicted the formation of a ‘very severe cyclonic storm’, which was later upgraded to ‘extremely severe cyclonic storm’ and now a super cyclone is on the cards.
- Mocha made landfall during the afternoon hours of May 14 on the Myanmar coast near Sittwe at a speed of 180-190 kmph, gusting to 210 kmph, IMD stated.
- Cyclone Mocha was the strongest cyclone to hit Bangladesh in over a decade. The storm caused widespread flooding and damage to homes, businesses, and infrastructure. The government of Bangladesh declared a state of emergency and deployed the military to help with relief efforts.
- Cyclone Mocha also caused significant damage in Myanmar. The storm made landfall in the country’s Rakhine state, which is home to many Rohingya refugees. The storm displaced thousands of refugees and destroyed many of their homes. The United Nations estimates that Cyclone Mocha could have a devastating impact on the Rohingya refugee population.
- Heavy rainfall, with the possible risk of floods, flash floods and landslides and there will be major impacts both ahead and after landfall for potentially hundreds of thousands of the world’s most vulnerable people.
- According to IMD, the Northeastern states of Tripura, Mizoram, Nagaland, Manipur and the southern part of Assam were likely to witness heavy-to-very heavy rains until May 18.
- It also mentioned that maximum temperatures were above normal by 2-4 degrees Celsius over parts of Northwest, central and Northeast India.
Naming of Cyclone:
- Cyclones are mostly named after regions and areas where they are formed, mostly the region of the sea or river where it is formed. Similarly, Cyclone Mocha was named after a part of the Red Sea port which introduced coffee into the world 500 years ago. Hence, on a suggestion made by Yemen, the cyclone was named Cyclone Mocha (Mokha).
Classification of Cyclone:
More about the Cyclone: https://optimizeias.com/mocha-summer-cyclones-not-new-fani-amphan-were-may-storms-too/