In News:

Recently, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed the formation of Cyclone Shakhti over the northeast Arabian Sea. Named by Sri Lanka under the World Meteorological Organisation’s regional naming system, Shakhti is a tropical cyclonic storm forming approximately 340 km west of Dwarka, Gujarat.

Formation and Track:

The cyclone developed due to low-pressure systems over the warm Arabian Sea waters in early October 2025. IMD reports indicate:

• Shakhti intensified into a Cyclonic Storm (CS) on 3 October and was forecasted to become a Severe Cyclonic Storm (SCS) by 4 October.
• Initially moving west-northwest, it is likely to track west-southwest, reaching central parts of the north and adjoining central Arabian Sea by 5 October.
• A subsequent recurvature is expected, moving east-northeastward from 6 October.

Significance:
The occurrence of Cyclone Shakhti highlights the increasing cyclonic activity in the Arabian Sea, historically less active than the Bay of Bengal. Warmer sea surface temperatures have led to the rapid intensification of recent cyclones, including Tauktae (2021) and Biparjoy (2023), off India’s west coast.

Comparative Context:

• The Bay of Bengal experiences more cyclones due to semi-enclosed waters retaining warmth (29–30°C), abundant moisture from rivers and monsoon flows, and low-pressure pulses from Pacific typhoons.
• In contrast, the Arabian Sea is cooler, influenced by dry winds from Oman and Yemen, and lacks such external triggers, which traditionally limited cyclone intensity.
• Rising temperatures, however, are changing this pattern, making the Arabian Sea increasingly prone to severe cyclones.