Paper: GS – I, Subject: Geography, Topic: Geo – Physical Phenomenon, Issue: Typhoon Ragasa.
Context:
Super Typhoon Ragasa, the most intense tropical cyclone recorded globally in 2025, unleashed devastating winds and heavy rains across East and Southeast Asia, including Hong Kong, southern China, Taiwan, and the northern Philippines.
Key Takeaways:
- At its peak, Ragasa’s sustained winds reached a staggering 280 kmph, making it a Category 5 super typhoon close to the upper limits of storm intensity on Earth.
- The typhoon’s ferocity forced millions to evacuate and caused widespread destruction, including a significant storm surge that raised coastal waters more than 3 meters in Hong Kong
Super Typhoon (Cyclone):
- About: A super typhoon (cyclone) is a very strong storm, like a Category 5 hurricane, with winds of around 253 km/h. These storms usually form in the West Pacific, near China, Japan, and the Philippines.
- Category: The criteria below has been formulated by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), which classifies the low-pressure systems in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea based on their capacity to damage, a system adopted by the WMO
CYCLONE around a low-pressure area. Cyclones are rapid inward air circulation
Cyclone v/s Anticyclone:
| Pressure System | Pressure Condition at the Center Pattern | Pattern of Wind Derection | |
| Northern Hemisphere | Southern Hemisphere | ||
| Cyclone | Low | Anticlockwise | Clockwise |
| Anticyclone | High | Clockwise | Anticlockwise |
Classification:
- TROPICAL CYCLONE: Tropical Cyclones; originate between the Tropics of Capricorn and Cancer
- Extra Tropical/Temperate Cyclones; originate in the Polar Regions
Conditions for Formation:
- Large sea surface with temperature >27° C.
- Presence of the Coriolis force
- Small variations in the vertical wind speed
- A pre-existing weak low-pressure area
- Upper divergence above the sea level system
Nomenclature
- Nodal Authority: World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
- Indian Ocean Region: Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Thailand contribute to naming cyclones that occur in this region.
Different Names for Tropical Cyclones:
- Typhoons: Southeast Asia and China
- Hurricanes: North Atlantic and eastern Pacific Tornados – West Africa and southern USA
- Willy-willies: Northwest Australia
- Tropical Cyclones: Southwest Pacific and Indian Ocean
Cyclones in India:
- Bi-annual Cyclone Season: March to May and October to December
- Recent Cyclones: Tauktae, Vayu, Nisarga and Mekanu (in Arabian Sea) and Asani, Amphan, Fani, Nivar, Bulbul, Titli, Yaas and Sitrang (in Bay of Bengal)
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