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- According to records from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Cyclonic storm Fani is the first severe, cyclonic storm to have formed in April in India’s oceanic neighbourhood since 1976.
- Severe cyclones generate maximum wind speeds of 89-117 kmph. They generally are concentrated in November, after the monsoon or around May, when the monsoon prepares to arrive in Kerala in June.
- Tropical cyclones in the Indian neighbourhood begin as ‘depressions’ i.e. intense low pressure systems. About 35% of such formations intensify to ‘cyclones’ and only 7% intensify to ‘very severe cyclones’
- Meteorologists have suggested that the development of severe cyclonic storm in April is may be a consequence of global warming. They have also highlighted that Fani has a protracted gestation which could lead to its gaining strength. On an average tropical cyclones form and make landfall in less than a week; however Fani would be making a landfall after 10 days of its formation.
- The IMD ranks cyclones on a 5-point scale- a) Cyclonic storm, b) Severe cyclonic storm, c) Very severe cyclonic storm, d) Extremely Severe cyclonic storm and e) Super cyclonic storm.
- If a Deep Depression develops gale force wind speeds of between 62–88 km/h, it is called a Cyclonic storm. Severe Cyclonic Storms have storm force wind speeds of between 89–117 km/h.
- Very Severe Cyclonic Storms have hurricane-force winds of 118–166 km/h. Super Cyclonic Storms have hurricane-force winds of above 222 km/h.



