Cyclone Montha landfall: What exactly is a ‘landfall’, how much damage can it cause?

Cyclone Montha landfall, Andhra Pradesh Cyclone Montha updates: Cyclone Montha is expected to make landfall on Tuesday night between Kakinada and Machilipatnam. Around 10,000 people have been moved to hundreds of relief camps set up in schools and government offices

Cyclone Montha landfall: Sea waves crash against the shore amid strong winds ahead of the landfall of Cyclone Montha at Manginapudi beach in Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh, on Tuesday. (Photo: PTI)

Cyclone Montha landfall: Several districts in Andhra Pradesh experienced strong winds and heavy rain on Tuesday morning (October 28) as Cyclone Montha approached the coast. The districts of Kakinada, Visakhapatnam, Konaseema, Krishna, West Godavari, and Vizianagaram experienced heavy rainfall, accompanied by wind speeds of up to 80 km per hour.

The cyclone is expected to make landfall on Tuesday night between Kakinada and Machilipatnam. Around 10,000 people have been moved to hundreds of relief camps set up in schools and government offices.

Here is a look at what a landfall is, what damage it can cause, and how long it lasts.

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What is the ‘landfall’ of a cyclone?

Simply put, landfall is the event of a tropical cyclone coming onto land after being over water. As per the India Meteorological Department (IMD), a tropical cyclone is said to have made landfall when the centre of the storm – or its eye – moves over the coast.

Crucially, a landfall should not be confused with a ‘direct hit’, which refers to a situation where the core of high winds (or eyewall) comes ashore but the centre of the storm may remain offshore. As per the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 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 does not occur.

What is the damage caused by a cyclone’s landfall?

The damage caused by the landfall will depend on the severity of the cyclone, marked by the speed of its winds. If the cyclonic storm is “very severe”, 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 and flooding of escape routes.

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The factors behind this kind of damage include extremely strong winds, heavy rainfall and storm surges, which cause devastating floods on the coast.

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How long does a landfall last?

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 in moisture supply and an increase in surface friction. This means that while landfalls are often the most devastating moments of cyclones, they also mark the beginning of their end.