landfalls

Landfalls refer to the event in which a tropical cyclone’s center crosses from the sea onto land along a coastline. It is the moment when the storm is considered to have moved from water to land, typically marked by the center or eye’s first contact with the coastline. In many cases, landfall is associated with the eyewall crossing the coast, though a storm can also produce significant effects inland even if the center remains offshore briefly. Forecasters also note the landfall location, the time, and the intensity at that moment.

How landfall is determined and reported involves tracking the cyclone’s center as it intersects with land, using a combination of surface observations, radar, satellite data, and reconnaissance aircraft where available. If the center crosses very close to the coast, landfall is still recorded. A storm may make more than one landfall along a coastline if it travels alongshore, reemerges into the sea, or crosses an island, resulting in multiple landfall events.

Impacts of landfall are driven by the storm’s intensity at that moment, the size of the cyclone, and the geography of the coast. Typical hazards include strong winds, storm surge that can inundate coastal areas, and heavy rainfall that can cause inland flooding. After landfall, the system can continue to affect parts of a country inland, depending on its path and dissipation rate. Landfall remains a key concept in meteorology and disaster planning, guiding warnings and preparedness measures.