CYCLONE HIDAYA (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Geography)

Context: According to the Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA), Cyclone 'Hidaya', a severe storm, is anticipated to make landfall on the Tanzanian coast south of Dar es Salaam from the Indian Ocean recently.

Cyclone Hidaya

• Geographical Formation: It emerged over the South Indian Ocean.
• Location: It developed east of Tanzania and north-northeast of the Comoros archipelago.
• Naming by: The designation 'Hidaya' was assigned to the cyclone by Meteo France's center in the Indian Ocean French Overseas Department.
• Flood Devastation in East Africa:

oExtent of Damage: Kenya, Tanzania, and Burundi have faced severe flood havoc since March this year.

Cyclone

• About: A cyclone is a large, rotating storm system with low pressure at its centre. Cyclones can form in any ocean basin, but they are most common in the tropics. 
• Impacts: Cyclones can cause a variety of hazards, including strong winds, storm surges, and heavy rainfall.
• Types of Cyclones

oTropical Cyclones: These are the most common type of cyclones. They form over warm, tropical oceans and are characterized by strong winds, heavy rainfall, and storm surges.

oExtratropical Cyclones: These cyclones form over cooler waters and are not as strong as tropical cyclones. They are characterized by strong winds, heavy rainfall, and snow.

oMid-latitude Cyclones: These cyclones form in the midlatitudes and are characterized by strong winds, heavy rainfall, and snow.