About Cyclone Fengal

What is a Cyclone?

• A cyclone is a large-scale, organized system of clouds and thunderstorms featuring a clearly defined circulation pattern. It is a type of storm system that forms over warm ocean waters in tropical and subtropical regions.

Types of Cyclones:

• Tropical Cyclones: These form in tropical and subtropical regions, typically over warm ocean waters. They are classified into several categories, including hurricanes (Atlantic and Northeast Pacific), typhoons (Northwest Pacific), and cyclones (South Pacific and Indian Ocean).
• Extratropical Cyclones: These form outside tropical regions, typically in temperate zones, and can cause severe weather, including rain, snow, and strong winds.
• Tornadoes: These are small, violent cyclonic storms typically seen in land-based storms and are different from tropical cyclones.

Features of a Cyclone:

• Low-Pressure Center (Eye): The central part of the cyclone, where the pressure is lowest. The eye is typically calm with clear skies and lighter winds.
• Eye Wall: The area surrounding the eye, characterized by the strongest winds and heaviest rainfall. It is the most dangerous part of a cyclone.
• Spiral Rainbands: These are bands of thunderstorms that spiral outward from the center of the storm. 
• Storm Surge: A rise in sea level due to the cyclone’s winds pushing water toward the shore. It is often responsible for the majority of the damage and flooding in coastal areas during a cyclone.
• Strong Winds: Cyclones are known for their intense winds, which can reach speeds exceeding 200 km/h (124 mph) in the most severe storms.
• Heavy Rainfall: Cyclones bring intense rainfall, which can result in widespread flooding, especially in coastal and low-lying regions.

Causes of Cyclones:

• Warm Ocean Waters: Cyclones require sea surface temperatures of at least 26°C (79°F) to form. Warm water provides the energy needed to fuel the storm
• Low-Pressure Area: A cyclone begins to form when a low-pressure area develops in a tropical region. .
• Coriolis Effect: The Earth’s rotation causes the Coriolis effect, which makes winds spiral in a counterclockwise direction in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere. 
• Converging Winds: The winds that converge at the low-pressure center of the cyclone provide additional moisture and energy.