Slow storms bring downpour to Tamil Nadu
Cyclone Fengal, although slow-moving, brought record rainfall to parts of Tamil Nadu. Like six other sluggish Bay of Bengal cyclones since 2013—such as Mandous, Thane, and Ockhi—Fengal's slow movement led to higher rainfall and flooding. This phenomenon is influenced by weak steering winds and warmer sea surface temperatures, with some cyclones causing heavy rainfall while others bring strong winds.
A sluggish Cyclone Fengal may have brought historic rainfall over some TN districts, but experts say at least six storms 2013 travelled slowly over Bay of Bengal and brought downpour that caused floods.
This includes Cyclones Mandous, Thane and Ockhi that made landfall in Tamil Nadu. Cyclones Nivar, Michaung and Burevi too impacted TN but made landfall in Puducherry, AP and Sri Lanka. Meteorologists said weak steering winds, climate change-induced high sea surface temperatures, interaction with land and high-pressure ridges could slow down a weather system that would gather more moisture and dump more rain with strong winds over the land during landfall. It can also deviate from its forecast path. A fast-moving system can travel at 16 km/h-17 km/h, and a slow-moving one at 7 km/h-8 km/h.
Former IMD Deputy Director General Y E A Raj said that during Cyclone Fengal and the low pressure which formed earlier this week there was a disconnect between the centre of the system and the clouding, which was far away. It was a sign the systems were not strong. "If steering currents are strong, systems will move fast. There have also been instances where systems left very little rainfall but brought strong winds and caused damage."
For more details: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/tamil-nadus-history-with-slow-moving-storms/articleshow/116481666.cms
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