More News : As a deep depression intensifies over the southeast Bay of Bengal, Tamil Nadu has been placed under an orange alert due to the approaching Cyclone Montha. Fishermen have been advised to avoid venturing into the sea. This raises a common question — why do most cyclones form during the winter months?
Experts explain that even though the air turns cooler during winter, the sea surface remains warm, which fuels cyclone formation. For a cyclone to form, the sea temperature must be at least 26°C or higher. Warm ocean water heats the air above it, causing it to rise and create a low-pressure area. When this low pressure combines with moisture and rotating winds, a cyclone begins to form.
In India, the October to December period is known as the post-monsoon season. During this time, changing wind patterns and shifting atmospheric pressure make the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea highly conducive to cyclonic activity. The residual heat in the oceans continues to provide the energy needed for storms to develop.
In short, winter itself doesn’t create cyclones — it’s the warm seas and changing winds during the transition from monsoon to winter that create the perfect conditions for their formation. As the seas cool down further in late winter, cyclone activity naturally declines.
