Cyclone Dana is expected to strengthen into a severe cyclonic storm as it moves towards India’s east coast. According to the Indian Meteorological Department, the storm could hit the coast on Thursday, October 24.

Heavy rain warnings have been issued for Odisha and West Bengal, while the low pressure system over the Bay of Bengal is already impacting weather conditions in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.

When will Hurricane Dana hit?

Cyclone Dana is expected to hit the Indian coast late Thursday night, October 24. According to the statement issued by the Indian Meteorological Department, the cyclone will bring heavy rains to Odisha and West Bengal as it approaches the eastern coast.

Who named Cyclone Dana?

The name “Dana” of the cyclone was given by Qatar. It is mandatory to follow certain guidelines when nominating a cyclone. These guidelines ensure that names are neutral, without any political, religious, cultural or gender bias. “Dana”, which means “generosity” in Arabic, was chosen according to these rules.

How are cyclone names decided?

In 2000, the cyclone naming process began under the auspices of WMO/ESCAP (World Meteorological Organization/United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific). Initially, only eight countries participated: Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Thailand. However, in 2018, five additional countries were added: Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

These 13 countries submitted suggestions for the name, and the WMO/ESCAP group finalized a list of 169 cyclone names. The list, published by the IMD in April 2020, includes 13 suggested names from each country.