India, Dec. 6 -- Pawan joins Kyarr, Fani, Maha, Vayu, Hikaa, Bulbul and Pabuk; to cross Somalia on December 7

With the formation of cyclone Pawan on the morning of December 5 in the southwest Arabian Sea, the total number of cyclones in the North Indian Ocean region this year has reached eight.

This is the highest number of cyclones in a single year since 1976, when nine cyclonic storms had formed in the region, according to data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD). This record might still be equalled as the IMD is tracking another depression in the east central Arabian Sea, though the system has weakened from a deep depression and is likely to de-intensify further in the coming days.

Six of the cyclones this year were of th...