Landfall of a Cyclone

Context:

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the landfall process of Cyclone Biparjoy started near Jakhau port in Gujarat.

About Landfall of Cyclone:

Landfall is the event of a tropical cyclone coming onto land after being over water.
As per the IMD, a tropical cyclone is said to have made a landfall when the center of the storm – or its eye – moves over the coast.
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 sharp reduction of moisture supply and increase in surface friction.
- This means that while landfalls are often the most devastating moments of cyclones, they also mark the beginning of its end.

Impact of Cyclone’s Landfall:

The damage caused by the landfall will depend on the severity of the cyclone – marked by the speed of its winds.
For Cyclone Biparjoy, classified by the IMD as a “very severe cyclonic storm”, the impact may include:
- Extensive damage to kutcha houses
- Partial disruption of power and communication lines
- Minor disruption of rail and road traffic
- Potential threat from flying debris
- Flooding of escape routes.
The factors behind damage during landfall of cyclone include extremely strong winds, heavy rainfall and the storm surge which cause devastating floods in the coast.