Landfall of a cyclone

Subject : GEOGRAPHY

Section: Physical geography

Context:

The Landfall process of cyclone Biporjoy is continuing and by midnight it will be completely over the land. Part of the eye (of the cyclone) is over the land,” the IMD said.

What is the landfall of a cyclone?

Landfall is the event of a tropical cyclone coming onto land after being over water.
According to the IMD, a tropical cyclone is said to have made landfall when the centre of the storm — or its eye — moves over the coast.
A landfall should not be confused with a ‘direct hit’, which refers to a situation where the core of high winds (or eye wall) comes on shore but the centre of the storm may remain offshore.
Because the strongest winds in a tropical cyclone are not located precisely at the centre, it is possible for a cyclone’s strongest winds to be experienced over land even if landfall has not occurred.
Damage caused by the landfall:
- The damage caused by the landfall will depend on the severity of the cyclone — marked by the speed of its winds.
How long a landfall lasts?
- Landfalls can last for a few hours, with their exact duration depending on the speed of the winds and the size of the storm system.
Cyclones lose their intensity once they move over land because of a sharp reduction of moisture supply and an increase in surface friction.
- This means that while landfalls often bring the most devastating moments of a cyclone, they also mark the beginning of its end.