Cyclones are huge, very powerful storms. They can be hundreds of kilometers wide. They form only in warm, wet conditions, usually over the sea in tropical areas near the equator.
The sequence of events that lead to the formation of cyclone is as follows:
1. When water from the sea evaporates, it takes up heat from the atmosphere to change into water vapour.
2. Air over the sea gets heated by the sun. As the warm air rises, it is located with moisture from the sea.
3. As this air gets heated, it becomes lighter and rises up further, causing a low pressure region to develop. More air rushes in towards the center of the low pressure region.
4. This process continues and results in a very low pressure region in the center with very high speed winds revolving around it. The swirling winds rotate faster and faster, forming a huge circle which can be upto 200 km across.
This is the weather condition that we can call a cyclone. Thus the cyclone consists of a low pressure area with higher pressure all around. The winds tend to blow’ towards the low pressure region and circulate violently around the center with great speed.
