Tropical Cyclone

About Tropical Cyclone:

• It is a rapidly rotating storm originating over warm tropical oceans from where it draws the energy to develop. 
• How it is formed?

• A tropical cyclone is formed only over warm ocean waters near the equator.
• Warm, moist air rises up and away from the ocean surface, creating an area of low pressure.
• It causes the air from surrounding areas with higher pressure to move towards the low-pressure area.
• This leads to the warming of air and causes it to rise above. As the air rises & cools, the water in the air forms clouds.
• This complete system of clouds and wind spins & grows, along with the ocean’s heat.
• As the wind rotation speed increases, an eye gets formed in the middle.

• It has a low-pressure center and clouds spiraling towards the eyewall surrounding the "eye", the central part of the system where the weather is normally calm and free of clouds. 
• The winds blow counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.
• A tropical cyclone brings very violent winds, torrential rain, high waves, and, in some cases, very destructive storm surges and coastal flooding.
• The category of a tropical cyclone is determined by its sustained wind speed, as measured by the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. 
• It is classified into five categories — Category 1 to Category 5. 

• While Category 1 tropical cyclones bring winds of 119 to 153 kmph. 
• Category 5 tropical cyclones, which are the strongest, have winds of 252 kmph or higher. Storms that reach Category 3 and higher are considered major tropical cyclones due to their potential to inflict significant damage.