Which of the following tropical cyclones had hit the western coast of India in May 2021?

The correct answer is Tauktae.

Key Points

• Cyclone Tauktae
  • It was the first cyclonic storm of 2021 that emerged from the Arabian Sea.
  • It hit southern Gujarat on 17 May 2021 and was classified as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm (VSCS).
  • It is a tropical cyclone, It has been named by Myanmar.
  • It means 'gecko', a highly vocal lizard, in the Burmese language. 

Additional Information 

• Tropical Cyclones
  • Tropical cyclones are violent storms that originate over oceans in tropical areas and move over to the coastal areas bringing about large-scale destruction due to violent winds (squalls), very heavy rainfall (torrential rainfall) and storm surge.
  • They are irregular wind movements involving the closed circulation of air around a low-pressure centre.
  • Conditions Favourable for Tropical Cyclone Formation
    • Large sea surface with a temperature higher than 27° C,
    • The presence of the Coriolis force is enough to create a cyclonic vortex,
    • Small variations in the vertical wind speed,
    • A pre-existing weak low-pressure area or low-level-cyclonic circulation,
    • Upper divergence above the sea level system.
  • The depth of warm water (26-27°C) should extend for 60-70 m from the surface of the ocean/sea, so that deep convection currents within the water do not churn and mix the cooler water below with the warmer water near the surface.
  • The above condition occurs only in western tropical oceans because of warm ocean currents (easterly trade winds push ocean waters towards the west) that flow from the east towards the west forming a thick layer of water with temperatures greater than 27°C. This supplies enough moisture to the storm.
  • The cold currents lower the surface temperatures of the eastern parts of the tropical oceans making them unfit for the breeding of cyclonic storms.