Cyclone Mandous
#GS-01 Geography, #GS-03 Disaster Management
For Prelims
Tropical Cyclone:
- Cyclones are rapid inward air circulation around a low–pressure
- The air circulates in an anticlockwise direction in the Northern hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern
- Tropical cyclones are strong storms that form over tropical waters and then travel inland, wreaking havoc with violent winds, heavy rainfall, and storm surges.
- Tropical cyclones are one of the world’s most destructive natural disasters.
- Tropical cyclones form over warm tropical oceans and intensify.
- The World Meteorological Organisation uses the term ‘Tropical Cyclone’ to cover weather systems in which winds exceed ‘Gale Force’ (minimum of 63 km per hour).
Factors promoting formation of Cyclones:
- A sea with large surface area with a temperature above 27° C.
- Presence of the Coriolis force.
- Small variations in the vertical wind
- A pre-existing weak low- pressure area or low-level-cyclonic circulation.
- Upper divergence above the sea level system.
Who names the Cyclones:
- Cyclones that form in every ocean basin across the world are named by the regional specialised meteorological centres (RSMCs) and Tropical Cyclone Warning Centres (TCWCs).
- There are six RSMCs in the world, including the India Meteorological Department (IMD), and five TCWCs.
Cyclone Mandous:
- Cyclone Mandous (meaning treasure box) is a slow-moving cyclone that often absorbs a lot of moisture.
- It carries a large amount of rainfall and gains strength in the form of wind speeds.
- The name has been suggested by the United Arab Emirates.
- It is moving towards Northwest direction so areas in northwest districts will witness strong winds of 55-65 kmph which will further decrease by evening to 30-40 kmph.
- Several parts of Chennai are facing heavy rainfall and strong winds amid cyclone Mandous.
- The cyclonic storm Mandous weakened into a deep depression over north Tamil Nadu coast.
- To move nearly west-northwestwards and gradually weaken into a depression by noon of 10th December.
Source “Rain lashes T.N. as cyclone makes landfall“
