Tropical cyclones are largely confined to the South China Sea, the Bay of Bengal and the Gulf of Mexico. Why?

Provides a recent Bay of Bengal example of the warm-water and low-shear conditions that make these seas cyclone-prone.

• Cyclone Arnab grew from a low-pressure area on 23 October 2026 to a very severe cyclonic storm with 125 to 135 km/h winds.
• Rapid intensification of such storms depends on warm water at depth and low vertical wind shear.

• Cyclone Arnab, the first North Indian Ocean cyclone of 2026, crossed the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam early on 28 October 2026 as a very severe cyclonic storm.
• It formed as a low-pressure area on 23 October and became a cyclone by 26 October, with sustained winds of 125 to 135 km/h at peak.
• It stayed nearly stationary near Narsapur and Yanam and kept its intensity for at least six hours after landfall.

Use Arnab and Murasu as a current example of the Bay of Bengal's high cyclone frequency, after explaining the formation conditions.

• In late October and early November 2026, Cyclones Arnab and Murasu formed over the Bay of Bengal within about a week.
• Murasu began as a low over the south Andaman Sea on 29 October 2026 and became a cyclonic storm on 1 November.

• Cyclonic Storm Murasu formed over the Bay of Bengal on 1 November 2026, days after Cyclone Arnab hit Andhra Pradesh.
• Murasu, a Tamil word for a traditional drum, was contributed by India; Arnab was Bangladesh's name.
• The North Indian Ocean list has 169 names from 13 countries, adopted in 2020; names are at most eight letters and never reused.