Landfall is the event of a storm moving over land after being over water. More broadly, and in relation to human travel, it refers to 'the first land that is reached or seen at the end of a journey across the sea or through the air, or the fact of arriving there.[1]
A tropical cyclone is classified as making landfall when the center of the storm moves across the coast; in a relatively strong tropical cyclone, this is when the eye moves over land.[2] This is where most of the damage occurs within a mature tropical cyclone, such as a typhoon or hurricane, as most of the damaging aspects of these systems are concentrated near the eyewall. Such effects include the peaking of the storm surge, the core of strong winds coming ashore, and heavy flooding rains. These coupled with high surf can cause major beach erosion. When a tropical cyclone makes landfall, the eye usually closes in upon itself due to negative environmental factors over land, such as friction with the terrain, which causes surf to decrease, and drier continental air. Maximum sustained winds will naturally decrease as the cyclone moves inland due to frictional differences between water and land with the free atmosphere.[3]
Hurricane Nicole made a direct hit over Bermuda. The western eyewall brushed the island, but the center remained offshore
Landfall is distinct from a direct hit. A direct hit is where the core of high winds (or eyewall) comes onshore but the center of the storm may stay offshore. The effects of this may be quite similar to landfall, as this term is used when the radius of maximum wind within a tropical cyclone moves ashore.[4] These effects are high surf, heavy rains that may cause flooding, minor storm surge, coastal erosion, high winds, and possibly severe thunderstorms with tornadoes around the periphery.
Storms, e.g., tropical cyclones, can be quite large. Potentially, dangerous winds, rain, and flooding may impact an area near the center of the storm, though technically landfall may not have occurred. Accordingly, it may be helpful to gauge the anticipated impact of such storms, to be aware of their general location and landmasses adjacent to the major thrust of the storm.
Tornado or waterspout
When a tornadic waterspout makes landfall it is reclassified as a tornado,[5] which can subsequently cause damage to areas inland. When a fair weather waterspout makes landfall it usually dissipates quickly due to friction and a reduction in the amount of warm air supplied to the funnel.[6]
^Sim Aberson and Chris Landsea (2008). Subject : C2) Doesn't the friction over land kill tropical cyclones? 2009-05-06 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 2009-02-05.
^Glossary of Meteorology (2009). Waterspout. 2011-06-06 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 2009-02-05.
^Bruce B. Smith (2009). Waterspouts. Retrieved on 2009-02-05.
May 04, 2023
landfall, other, uses, disambiguation, event, storm, moving, over, land, after, being, over, water, more, broadly, relation, human, travel, refers, first, land, that, reached, seen, journey, across, through, fact, arriving, there, hurricane, maria, losing, cha. For other uses see Landfall disambiguation Landfall is the event of a storm moving over land after being over water More broadly and in relation to human travel it refers to the first land that is reached or seen at the end of a journey across the sea or through the air or the fact of arriving there 1 Hurricane Maria losing its characteristic structure after making landfall in Puerto Rico Contents 1 Tropical cyclone 2 Tornado or waterspout 3 See also 4 ReferencesTropical cyclone EditA tropical cyclone is classified as making landfall when the center of the storm moves across the coast in a relatively strong tropical cyclone this is when the eye moves over land 2 This is where most of the damage occurs within a mature tropical cyclone such as a typhoon or hurricane as most of the damaging aspects of these systems are concentrated near the eyewall Such effects include the peaking of the storm surge the core of strong winds coming ashore and heavy flooding rains These coupled with high surf can cause major beach erosion When a tropical cyclone makes landfall the eye usually closes in upon itself due to negative environmental factors over land such as friction with the terrain which causes surf to decrease and drier continental air Maximum sustained winds will naturally decrease as the cyclone moves inland due to frictional differences between water and land with the free atmosphere 3 Hurricane Nicole made a direct hit over Bermuda The western eyewall brushed the island but the center remained offshore Landfall is distinct from a direct hit A direct hit is where the core of high winds or eyewall comes onshore but the center of the storm may stay offshore The effects of this may be quite similar to landfall as this term is used when the radius of maximum wind within a tropical cyclone moves ashore 4 These effects are high surf heavy rains that may cause flooding minor storm surge coastal erosion high winds and possibly severe thunderstorms with tornadoes around the periphery Storms e g tropical cyclones can be quite large Potentially dangerous winds rain and flooding may impact an area near the center of the storm though technically landfall may not have occurred Accordingly it may be helpful to gauge the anticipated impact of such storms to be aware of their general location and landmasses adjacent to the major thrust of the storm Tornado or waterspout EditWhen a tornadic waterspout makes landfall it is reclassified as a tornado 5 which can subsequently cause damage to areas inland When a fair weather waterspout makes landfall it usually dissipates quickly due to friction and a reduction in the amount of warm air supplied to the funnel 6 See also Edit Weather portal Tropical cyclones portalRainbandReferences Edit Definition of Landfall in Cambridge Dictionary National Hurricane Center 2009 Glossary of NHC Terms Landfall Retrieved on 2009 02 05 Sim Aberson and Chris Landsea 2008 Subject C2 Doesn t the friction over land kill tropical cyclones Archived 2009 05 06 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 2009 02 05 National Hurricane Center 2009 Glossary of NHC Terms Direct Hit Retrieved on 2009 02 05 Glossary of Meteorology 2009 Waterspout Archived 2011 06 06 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 2009 02 05 Bruce B Smith 2009 Waterspouts Retrieved on 2009 02 05 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Landfall amp oldid 1143938864, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
