Kochi: Swirling winds, small tornado-like storms and water sprouts are likely to be regular features during the monsoon season in Kerala, says a climate scientist.
According to S. Abhilash, assistant professor of department of atmospheric sciences, Cochin University of Science and Technology, the phenomena needed to be studied in detail to find out the reasons for their occurrences.
The possibility of climate change and warming of sea warming causing such developments cannot be ruled out.
According to him, deep convective clouds seen over the region generates gustiness, lightning, occasional small swirling wind, small tornado and water sprout. “We need to live with the system in future and needed to improve our capability to manage them better,” Dr Abhilash said. “Decentralisation and citizen partnership in disaster management is the need of the day.”
Dr. Abhilash said all dynamic ingredients required for swirling winds and small tornado-like storms are present in the monsoon season. Usually, the monsoon clouds in the west coast are shallow, while deep clouds were common in central and eastern Indian regions during the monsoon. Lightning was also very common in these regions during the rains.
According to Dr. Abhilash, the favourable dynamic condition combining with the monsoon clouds developing in the deep could be cited as the triggers for these kinds of hazards.
Tornado-like storms hit places such as Chalakudy, Kodunga-lloor, Eloor and a few other places in the past few days while water sprouts were also noticed in the state. Swirling winds during the rains have been creating panic amongst the people as it was quite unusual in the state apart from leading to large-scale damages including the tiled roofs.
