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"CYCLONES, HURRICANES AND TYPHOONS", WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT ANY? There are three different terms for these severe storms: Cyclone, Hurricane and Typhoon. There is no difference apart from slightly different wind speeds. Cyclones", with low pressure, spin counter-clockwise. A tropical cyclone is a warm-core system that has a warm, humid, tropical air mass throughout the entire storm. Tropical cyclones derive their energy from the intense thunderstorm activity that forms around the eye of the storm. Cyclones are a mass of very thick positive and negative clouds, with powerful thunder and lightening, with heavy/torrential rain and strong whirlwind. It depends on its speed, the faster it goes the better but when slows, with a very intense capacity, it is really devastating. America calls it "Hurricane." In the western Pacific near Asia call "Typhoons." In most of the southern hemisphere and the Indian Ocean, it's called "Cyclones." They are all based on latitude Here in my country, we've survived many violent cyclones. My first experience was in 1960, when I was still a , there were two devastating cyclones within barely a month interval. The first intense one, called Alix, in January 1960, with gust of 200 km/hr and the second intense one was Carol in February the same year with 256 km/hr. At that time most, if not all the houses were wooden ones, so imagine the havoc and damages done the population that time. Our house was also damaged with blasted glass panes and the top of the roof also. My parents gathered all of us in a safer room, ready to evacuate in case the roof would blow off, we gathered some our needs to go away to the safe shelter but luckily, no more damage until that cyclone has passed and afterwards our house was repaired. We have had many other cyclones after that. Than in the 70's my parents decided to have the house built in concrete blocks and cement, as it is safer during any cyclone, and most of the people did so as well. When the eye of the cyclone passes right over the country, from North to South or from East to West, at low speed, it is really extremely dangerous. Some happened in the day time and many at night which were very scary. During the cyclone, electricity is cut off for safety and all the island was in total darkness. We had to use candlelight, torches or gas lamps and a battery operated radio for continuous news . Then in the 70's my parents decided to have the house built in concrete blocks and cement, as it is safer during any cyclone, and most of the people did so as well. When the eye of the cyclone passes right over the country, from North to South or from East to West, at low speed, it is really extremely dangerous. Some happened in the day time and many at night which were very scary. During the cyclone, electricity is cut off for safety and all the island was in total darkness. We had to use candlelight, torches or gas lamps and a battery operated radio for continuous news . Every family had to get ready for any emergency. With raincoats, a few clothes, money and torches, to get away, be it in the torrential rain, lightening and thunder, in the powerful wind, roaring and smashing everything on it way, blasting glass panes, breaking down electric poles, big trees with branches being blown away as well as zinc sheets flying above like kites in the air, wooden roofs lifted and thrown apart and houses broken. Once the house becomes unsafe, one must leave in spite of the weather condition outside. We could watch all these through the window glass during day time, but at night it was very terrifying, it's by strong continuous lightening strikes, that we could see what was happening outside. Gosh!! Really dreadful and heartbreaking seeing all these devastation going on. People walking to seek shelters, trying to hold themselves . With wrapped in any sort of protection, in the arms or on the shoulders of their parents. Several times we had sheltered couples with young until the cyclone had gone. Sometimes it took 2/3 days at most then everyone try to repair their homes. The intense and severe cyclones we've got, were of 216 km/hr up to 280 km/hr!!. All those have been very severe and devastating cyclones. But fortunately most houses and high-rise buildings, since the 70's, are built with iron, concrete cement and blocks with shutters also. So, from then on, damages are less, mainly on crops, vegetation, forestry, electrical poles and telephone cables and floods. There may be a few houses in villages too but not as it was long ago. However all cyclones are dangerous, we should be prepared for any drastic change during their trajectory. This is nature and none can fight against it. I hope this blog has given you a good insight about cyclones/hurricanes or typhoons. Please kindly tell us your experience if you have has any. Thank you for your read and views.​ Sincerely, Lisa.              |
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3/19/2016 10:03 am |
I doubt the name makes much difference. Here we don't have these types of storm here but we have earthquakes. Earthquakes sneak up on you as they come without warning but they are over with pretty quickly. Both do a lot of damage and kill and injure people. Spiritwoman ^i^
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Tom, hi. Thanks for your visit and your comments. I haven't included Monsoon for the simple reason that monsoon cannot be compared to cyclone, hurricane or typhoon. First of all Monsoon consists mainly of very heavy rainfall, but its wind speed is normally above 40 km/per hour, monsoon wind very rarely blows up to 70 km per hr.. To be classified as a hurricane, typhoon, or cyclone, a storm must reach wind speeds of at least 74 miles per hour (119 kilometers per hour). If a hurricane's winds reach speeds of 111 miles per hour (179 kilometers per hour), it is upgraded to an "intense hurricane." If a typhoon hits 150 miles per hour (241 kilometers per hour or above) then it becomes a "super typhoon.". That's why they are much more catastrophic and devastating more than Monsoon. Here in my country, we have got cyclone with wind speed up to 280 km/p/hr. Just imagine it and what disaster it had caused to us!!. But we don't have monsoon here, except tropical divergence with torrential rain sometimes in summer. BTW, all these storms are formed on the sea and move towards the land. Since more than 2 decades ago till now, we haven't got any of such devastating storms till now. Thanks God!!. Thanks again Tom and enjoy your weekend. Kind regards, Lisa.
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Spiritwoman hi dear, Glad reading from you on this blog. Thanks for your visit and your nice comments. Spirit dear, here in my country, we rather get cyclones than Earthquakes, which in such a short time can destroy the whole area, including death caused. But with cyclones here, once the buildings are well secured and safe, the damages are far less than during an earthquake. With the announcement of any incoming cyclone, one has enough time to get prepared for safety but with an earthquake, it's so sudden and more devastating, there's really no time. Thanks again dear Sipirit, I wish you and all of yours, a wonderful weekend. Lisa,
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Adolpho, hi, Your visit and above comments are appreciated, Thank you for your added explanation about monsoon, which I have also described. We don't have monsoon here in my country but cyclones which are much more devastating. Thanks again Adolpho and have a wonderful Sunday with all of yours. Kind regards, Lisa, .
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Leaf Hello, Glad reading from you on this blog of mine. I appreciate very much your input and experience on the issue. Thank you so much Leaf. You are correct, these strong storms are really dangerous, be it by the wind, together with the floods, once declared, people must take precautions and get to safety if their homes are not so safe. Eventually, electricity must be cut off, here too it is done so. Thanks again Leaf, I wish you a happy Sunday. Kind regards, Lisa,
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WestEast, hi, Your visit and your above clarified comments are very much appreciated. You are quite correct in your differentiation between those violent storms mentioned above on my blog and the monsoon. Monsoon is not a storm, that's why I didn't include it on my list of violent storms. Monsoon's wind doesn't blow or reach 74 mp/hr =199 km/ph. Those devastating storms such as Hurricanes, Typhoons and Cyclones, have winds more than 74 mph= 119 km/hr and they can reach up to 174 mph~ 280 km/hr. We had survived such calamity in the past, I was just a child by then, I remember what disaster it had done to my country. All wooden houses had been considerably damaged, except some colonial stone block buildings with wooden roofs which were also destroyed as well. In the remote villages, their straw huts were scattered beyond recognition, all over trees, vegetation, crops and all other utilities were down on the ground !!. Desolation was everywhere. I remember England and France sent reliefs and brought along materials to repair and rebuild houses here. Afterwards most of the houses were concrete cement buildings, and less damages eventually. The only other cataclysm which we have never experienced till now is Earthquake, Thanks God !!. This is extremely more disastrous than those storms. You are also correct WestEast, monsoon happens in many countries too. All these are natural calamities which none prevent at all. Sorry for my long response. Thank you again for your above input WestEast, Have a wonderful Sunday. With my respectful regards. Lisa.
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