Types of Cyclones
There are three main types of Cyclones:
- A Tropical Cyclone - a cyclone that forms North of the Equator which is above the Tropic of Cancer, in tropical waters. The Tropic of Cancer is a circle of latitude that lies 23.5 degrees North of the Equator.
- Subtropical Cyclone - a cyclone that forms South of the Equator, below the Tropic of Capricorn.
- An Ex-tropical Cyclone - a cyclone that travels across land and becoming depressurised and then slowly dissipating.
Categories of Tropical Cyclones
The severity of a tropical cyclone is placed in categories ranging from one to five, depending on the amount of wind produced by the cyclone. The Bureau of Meteorology determines. the category of the cyclone once it occurs. As the eye of the cyclone passes, it will produce a temporary stillness, and then extreme winds will blow from the opposite direction. This category table (Table 1.) below from the Bureau of Meteorology website, shows the five different categories of Tropical Cyclones:
CATEGORY 1 (tropical cyclone) Negligible house damage. Damage to some crops, trees and caravans. Craft may drag moorings. A Category 1 cyclone's strongest winds are GALES with typical gusts over open flat land of 90 - 125 km/h.These winds correspond to Beaufort 8 and 9 (Gales and strong gales).
CATEGORY 2 (tropical cyclone) Minor house damage. Significant damage to signs, trees and caravans. Heavy damage to some crops. Risk of power failure. Small craft may break moorings.A Category 2 cyclone's strongest winds are DESTRUCTIVE winds with typical gusts over open flat land of 125 - 164 km/h. These winds correspond to Beaufort 10 and 11 (Storm and violent storm).
CATEGORY 3 (severe tropical cyclone) Some roof and structural damage. Some caravans destroyed. Power failures likely.A Category 3 cyclone's strongest winds are VERY DESTRUCTIVE winds with typical gusts over open flat land of 165 - 224 km/h.These winds correspond to the highest category on the Beaufort scale, Beaufort 12 (Cyclone).
CATEGORY 4 (severe tropical cyclone) Significant roofing loss and structural damage. Many caravans destroyed and blown away. Dangerous airborne debris. Widespread power failures.A Category 4 cyclone's strongest winds are VERY DESTRUCTIVE winds with typical gusts over open flat land of 225 - 279 km/h.These winds correspond to the highest category on the Beaufort scale, Beaufort 12 (Cyclone)
CATEGORY 5 (severe tropical cyclone) Extremely dangerous with widespread destruction.A Category 5 cyclone's strongest winds are VERY DESTRUCTIVE winds with typical gusts over open flat land of more than 280 km/h.These winds correspond to the highest category on the Beaufort scale, Beaufort 12 (Cyclone).
CATEGORY 1 (tropical cyclone) Negligible house damage. Damage to some crops, trees and caravans. Craft may drag moorings. A Category 1 cyclone's strongest winds are GALES with typical gusts over open flat land of 90 - 125 km/h.These winds correspond to Beaufort 8 and 9 (Gales and strong gales).
CATEGORY 2 (tropical cyclone) Minor house damage. Significant damage to signs, trees and caravans. Heavy damage to some crops. Risk of power failure. Small craft may break moorings.A Category 2 cyclone's strongest winds are DESTRUCTIVE winds with typical gusts over open flat land of 125 - 164 km/h. These winds correspond to Beaufort 10 and 11 (Storm and violent storm).
CATEGORY 3 (severe tropical cyclone) Some roof and structural damage. Some caravans destroyed. Power failures likely.A Category 3 cyclone's strongest winds are VERY DESTRUCTIVE winds with typical gusts over open flat land of 165 - 224 km/h.These winds correspond to the highest category on the Beaufort scale, Beaufort 12 (Cyclone).
CATEGORY 4 (severe tropical cyclone) Significant roofing loss and structural damage. Many caravans destroyed and blown away. Dangerous airborne debris. Widespread power failures.A Category 4 cyclone's strongest winds are VERY DESTRUCTIVE winds with typical gusts over open flat land of 225 - 279 km/h.These winds correspond to the highest category on the Beaufort scale, Beaufort 12 (Cyclone)
CATEGORY 5 (severe tropical cyclone) Extremely dangerous with widespread destruction.A Category 5 cyclone's strongest winds are VERY DESTRUCTIVE winds with typical gusts over open flat land of more than 280 km/h.These winds correspond to the highest category on the Beaufort scale, Beaufort 12 (Cyclone).