Cyclone

Definition:
A cyclone is a large scale air mass that rotates around a strong center of low pressure.
They are usually characterized by inward spiraling winds that rotate counterclockwise in
the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the southern• Tropical cyclones form only
over warm ocean waters near the equator.

Formation:

• To form a cyclone, warm, moist air over the ocean rises upward from near the surface. As this
air moves up and away from the ocean surface, it leaves is less air near the surface. So basically as
the warm air rises, it causes an area of lower air pressure below.

• Air from surrounding areas with higher air pressure pushes in to the low pressure area. Then
this new “cool” air becomes warm and moist and rises, too. And the cycle continues…

• As the warmed, moist air rises and cools the water in the air forms clouds. The whole system
of clouds and wind spins and grows, fed by the ocean’s heat and water evaporating from the ocean
surface.

• As the storm system rotates faster and faster, an eye forms in the center. It is very
calm and clear in the eye, with very low air pressure. Higher pressure air from above flows
down into the eye
When the winds in the rotating storm reach 39 mph (63 kmph), the storm is called a “tropical
storm”. And when the wind speeds reach 74 mph (119 kmph), the storm is officially a “tropical
cyclone” or hurricane. Tropical cyclones usually weaken when they hit land, because they are no
longer being “fed” by the energy from the warm ocean waters. However, they often move far inland,
dumping many centimeters of rain and causing lots of wind damage before they die out completely

Region of development:
There are three major developmental areas of it in the oceanic surface.

1st in pacific ocean on the eastern cost of Australia .most of the rainfall in the region occur
due to these cyclones and in this region they are call as typhones.

2nd region of developmemt of cyclones is in indian ocean in Arabian sea and bay of bangaal.
Where it is called as tropical cyclones.

3rd region of its development is in atlantic ocean, gulf of maxico where it is call as
hurricanes
Categories:
According to the speed of cyclonic wind ,damages caused by it by it, cyclones are classified
in 5 catagories :

Category Strongest gust Typical effects

(km/h)

1 Tropical Less than 125 Minimal house damage. Damage to some crops, trees
Cyclone km/h and caravans.Boats may drag moorings.
Gales

2 Tropical 125 - 164 km/h Minor house damage. Significant damage to signs, trees
Cyclone Destructive and caravans. Heavy damage to some crops. Risk of
winds power failure. Small boats may break moorings.

3 Severe 165 - 224 km/h Some roof and structural damage. Some caravans
Tropical Very destroyed. Power failure likely.
Cyclone destructive
winds

4 Severe 225 - 279 km/h Significant roofing and structural damage. Many
Tropical Very caravans destroyed and blown away. Dangerous
Cyclone destructive airborne debris. Widespread power failures.
winds

5 Severe More than 280 Extremely dangerous with widespread destruction.

Tropical km/h
Cyclone Extremely
destructive
winds

Harmful Effects of Cyclones and

Hurricanes
Cyclone is a swirling atmospheric disturbance in which strong winds blow in a circle, and
rotate `356utin the same direction as rotation of the earth. These comprise spiralling winds
that are usually centred in areas that have low atmospheric pressures. At the same time,
they are surrounded by high pressure.
They usually occur in tropical regions due to high temperature and humidity. Cyclones
are referred to

They usually occur in tropical regions due to high temperature and humidity. Cyclones
are referred to as typhoons in the Pacific Ocean, cyclones in the Indian Ocean and
hurricanes in America. About 65-75 cyclones arise in the world every year. They are
very common in India because of its long coastline.

EFFECTS OF CYCLONES AND HURRICANES:

ii. They cause i. Tropical cyclones cause heavy rainfall and landslides.

a lot of harm to towns and villages, causing severe damage to kuccha houses. Coastal
businesses like shipyards and oil wells are destroyed.

iii. They harm the ecosystem of the surrounding region.

iv. Civic facilities are disturbed.

v. Agricultural land is severely affected, especially in terms of water supply and soil
erosion.

vi. It causes harm to human, plant and animal life.

vii. Communication systems are badly affected due to cyclones.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Management and Mitigation of Cyclones and Hurricanes:
i. Coastal areas should be well prepared to meet eventualities that arise from cyclones.

ii. Houses should be constructed such that they can withstand the heavy rainfall and
forceful winds.

iii. Shelter beds should be created to check soil erosion and speed of winds.
iv. Remote sensing techniques should be used to forecast cyclones appropriately.

v. When a cyclone does occur, rescue and relief operations should be in place.

history of Cyclones in
Pakistan
PWP / March 31, 2011

A mosque is submerged after Cyclone Yemyin made landfall in Balochistan

Pakistan has a 1,046-kilometre (650 mi) coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman
in the extreme south western part of the country. Though cyclones are rare in the Arabian sea,
cyclones that form in this sea mostly move towards Indian state of Gujarat rather than Pakistan.

Cyclones form in which month?

 A map showing the up coming Monsoon pattern in the Sub-Continent

towards the Gulf and one Cyclones in the Arabian sea form mostly from May till June and
then from September till October, monsoon season plays a vital role for the formation of
cyclone in this basin. Tropical storms that hit Pakistan are mostly remnants by the time
reach pakistan or make landfall in south eastern Sindh which is not very much populated
they rarely move towards the Balochistan coast.

Each year before the onset of monsoon that is 15 April to 15 July and also after its
withdrawal that is 15 September to 15 December, there is always a distinct possibility of
the cyclonic storm to develop in the north Arabian Sea. There is a 98 per cent chance of
cyclones to turn towards the Indian state of Gujarat, one per cent chance of moving per
cent chance of moving towards the Pakistani coast.

Is there any Cyclone warning centre in Pakistan?

There is only one warning centre in Pakistan that is situated in Karachi. That too I suppose
might be out of order.

Deadliest tropical cyclones in Pakistan

Cyclones that effect Pakistan lose much of their intensity by the time they reach country’s
coastline. Following are the deadliest cyclones in Pakistan’s history, these cyclones caused
fatalities greater than 100.

1965 Karachi cyclone

Not much is known about this cyclone but it is the deadliest tropical storm in the history of
Pakistan as it caused 10,000 casualties in Karachi on 15 December.

Cyclone 2A 1999
This cyclone is the strongest and most intense cyclone in the history of Pakistan. A category
3 hurricane, it killed 6200 people in the country and made landfall in Shah Bandar at peak
intensity on 20 May near Karachi city in Sindh province.

Cyclone Yemyin
It killed 200 people alone in Karachi city on 23 June due to heavy rainfall and intense
windstorms of 70 mph. It made landfall near the towns of Ormara and Pasni in the
Balochistan province on 26 June where it killed 300 people. Overall it killed 730 people and
affected the lives of 2 million people in Pakistan making it the third deadliest cyclone in the
history of the country.

1993 Pak-Indo cyclone

A category 1 hurricane, it weakened over the sea near Sindh-Gujarat border due to high
wind shear. However it caused massive rainfall and flooding in Karachi but Thatta and
Badin districts were the worst affected where the cyclone killed 609 people and displaced
some 200,000 others.

1964 Indus valley cyclone

It made landfall in Tharparkar and Hyderabad district in Sindh province in Pakistan on 12
June. However it caused a great loss of life and property in the province. It killed 450
people and left some 400,000 people homeless.

WETTEST TROPICAL CYCLONE OF PAKISTAN

Wettest tropical cyclones in Pakistan

Highest known recorded totals

Precipitation
Measurement
Storm
station
Rank (mm) (in)

1 370 mm 14.57 inches Cyclone Phet 2010 Gwadar

2 285 mm 11.22 inches Cyclone 2A 1999 Shah Bandar

3 245 mm 9.64 inches Depression 2009 Karachi

4 191 mm 7.51 inches Deep depression 2007 Karachi

5 145 mm 5.71 inches Cyclone Onil 2004 Thatta

6 110 mm 3.94 inches Cyclone Yemyin 2007 Karachi

Deep
7 43 mm 1.69 inches Karachi
depression(2007)

8 18 mm 0.70 inches depression(2009) Karachi

LIST OF CYCLONES THAT AFFECTED THE PAKISTANI COASTLINE

Cyclone producing heavy rainfall and high winds

Cyclones mostly hit the Sindh coast than the Balochistan coast in Pakistan. During the last 100
years a number of cyclonic storms have struck Pakistan’s costal areas. The years involved were
1895, 1902, 1907, 1944, 1948, 1964, 1985, 1999, 2007 and 2010. Other cyclones that are listed
below caused rains as remnants.

 In 1895, a cyclonic storm hit the Makran coast in Balochistan province.

 In May 1902, a cyclonic storm struck the coast in the vicinity of Karachi.
 Again in June 1902, a cyclone hit the coast near Karachi but according to the New York
Times, the cyclone hit Karachi.
 In June 1907, a tropical storm struck the coast near Karachi.
 On 27 July 1944, a cyclone left some 10,000 people homeless in Karachi.
 In 1948, a tropical storm made landfall along the Makran coast in Balochistan province.
 On 12 June 1964, a deadly cyclone made landfall near Karachi. It killed 460 people and
left some 400,000 people homeless in south eastern Sindh.
  On 15 December 1965, a powerful cyclone slammed Karachi with 10,000 casualties.
 In 1984, there are unconfirmed reports that a cyclone hit Makran coast.
 In May 1985, a cyclonic storm made a landfall in the eastern direction of Karachi. The
cyclonic storm in 1985 which was moving towards Karachi actually had weakened over
the sea while still a few 100 Kilometers away south of Karachi. It did, however, cause
concern and panic for Karachiites.
 In November 1993, a category 1 1993 Indo-Pak cyclone approached the Sindh-Gujarat
border but dissipated due to high vertical wind shear over open waters. It killed 600
people in coastal Sindh with massive flooding in Karachi.
 In June 1998, remnants of the category 3 1998 Gujarat cyclone (the 5th strongest cyclone
of the Arabian Sea) killed 12 people in Karachi.
 In May 1999, again a category 3 1999 Pakistan cyclone (the 4th strongest cyclone of
Arabian Sea) hit Keti Bandar near Karachi at peak intensity in Sindh province; this
Cyclone killed 6400 people in Sindh. It is the strongest cyclone recorded in Pakistan.
 In May 2001, the powerful category 3 2001 India cyclone (the 3rd strongest cyclone of
the Arabian Sea) hit the Indian border of Gujarat. It caused rain along the Sindh coast, but
no damage was reported.
 In October 2004, a severe cyclonic storm, Cyclone Onil, approached the Sindh coast but
later recurved back to the sea; it caused heavy rain that killed 9 people in Karachi.
 In early June 2007, a category-5 Cyclone Gonu (the most strongest cyclone in the
Arabian sea) passed near the city of Gwadar in Baluchistan province as a cyclonic storm
with torrential rain and strong winds, it caused damage to dozens of boats and school
buildings in the area. It also caused high winds with light rainfall in Karachi and other
coastal areas.
 In late June 2007, a cyclonic storm, Cyclone Yemini, passed near Karachi and hit
between the towns of Pasni and Ormara in Balochistan Province.
 In November 2009, remnants of Cyclone Phyan caused gusty winds along the Sindh coast
including Karachi. However six Pakistani fishermen were trapped in the storm later
rescued by the Indian Navy.
 In June 2010, Cyclone Phet (the 2nd strongest cyclone in the Arabian Sea), once a
powerful category 4 cyclone, made landfall in Keti Bandar as a weak tropical depression,
with a total 14 casualties in Pakistan. Before that it wreaked havoc in Gwadar,
Baluchistan province as a category 1 cyclone.
 In November 2010, remnants of Cyclone Jal caused dusty winds in Karachi while it
caused light to moderate rainfall in southeastern Sindh.
 In early November 2011, moisture from Cyclone Kaila that was moving towards Oman,
caused drizzle in Karachi

Mitigations of cyclones:
CYCLONES DO’S & DON’T’S

Before the cyclones season:

Check the house; secure loose tiles, carry out repair works for doors and windows.

Remove dead woods or dying trees close to the house; anchor removable objects like
lumber piles, loose tin sheds, loose bricks, garbage canes, sign-boards etc .which can fly in
strong winds.

Keep some wooden boards ready so that glass windows can be boarded if needed.

Demolish condemned buildings.

Keep some dry non-perishable food always ready for emergency use.

WHEN THE CYCLONES STARTS:

Be sure that a window and door can be opened only on the side opposite to the one facing
the wind.

If the center of the cyclone is passing directly over your house there will be a lull in the
wind and rain lasting for half and hour or so. During this time do not go out; because
immediately after that very strong wind will below from the opposite direction.

Switch off electrical mains in your house.

Remain calm.

POST CYCLONE MEASURES:

You should remain in the shelter until informed that you can return to your home.

Strictly avoid any loose and dangling wires from the lamp posts.

If you are to drive, drive carefully.

Clear debris from your premises immediately.

Report the correct loss to appropriate authorities.

PREVENTION TO BE TAKEN BEFORE A CYCLONE:

Keep a list of emergency phone numbers handly, including numbers for your local police,
fire, ambulance, state emergency service, etc.

Clear your property of any loose items that could become missiles during extreme winds
(e.g. sheet iron and wood).

Find out how where to turn off power, gas and water supplies. Store your important
documents ( e.g. wills supplies. Photos, birth certificates) in a fire/water-proof container or
safe deposit box.

Check that you have adequate household and contents insurance and which hazard are not
coversd by the policy.

Disconnect all electrical applications and turn off the gas.

Fuel your car and park it under soil cover.

Pack an evacuation kit including your emergency kit, warm clothing, essential medications,
valuables, papers, photos and keepsakes in waterproof bags.

Stay inside and shelter in the strongest part of the building. Continue to listen to your
portable radio for updates and advice.

Beware of the calm ‘eye’ of the cyclone. If the wind suddenly drops, don’t assume that the
cyclone is over. Violent winds will soon reume from the opposite direction.

If you are driving, STOP – but well away from the so and clear of trees, power- lines and
watercourses. Stay in your vehicle.