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Articles on Tropical cyclones

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The fishing village of Mahebourg, Mauritius, is among the places in the path of cyclone Freddy. Laura Morosoli/AFP via Getty Images

Cyclones in southern Africa: five essential reads

Tropical cyclones are becoming more frequent in the Indian Ocean. Here’s why and what that means.
Seabirds forage on an oyster shell island on the Texas Gulf Coast. Jon G. Fuller/VW Pics/ Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Hurricane Harvey more than doubled the acidity of Texas’ Galveston Bay, threatening oyster reefs

Climate change is making oceans more acidic globally. Now, scientists are finding that large storms can send pulses of acidic water into bays and estuaries, further stressing fish and shellfish.
Hurricane Nicole was a Category 1 storm, but it caused extensive damage to Florida in 2022. Lauren Dauphin/NASA Earth Observatory

Even weak tropical cyclones have grown more intense worldwide – we tracked 30 years of them using currents

Research shows storms that might have caused minimal damage a few decades ago are becoming stronger and more destructive as the planet warms.
When Hurricane Dorian, seen here from the International Space Station, stalled over the Bahamas in September 2019, its winds, rain and storm surge devastated the islands. NASA

What makes hurricanes stall, and why is that so hard to forecast?

Hurricane stalling has become common over the past half-century, and their average forward speed has also slowed.
Photobank.kiev.ua/Shutterstock

Storm warning: a new long-range tropical cyclone outlook is set to reduce disaster risk for Pacific Island communities

Tropical cyclones account for almost four in five natural disasters across Pacific Island nations. But a new forecasting tool now gives up to four months warning for the upcoming cyclone season.
Many houses still do not have cyclone-ready roofs, so are liable to lose them if hit by the full force of the storm. Dan Peled/AAP

Homes can be better prepared for cyclones. But first we must convince the owners

Most homes are not as cyclone-ready as they could be. It seems lower insurance premiums aren’t enough of an incentive for owners to upgrade their homes, but a new study points to some solutions.
Australia will probably see fewer tropical cyclones reaching land this season. AAP Image/Bureau of Meteorology

Australia could see fewer cyclones, but more heat and fire risk in coming months

Southern and eastern Australia need to prepare for heatwaves and increased fire risk this summer, as forecasts predict hot, dry weather.

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