Investigation of a Possibly EF2 Tornado that had Occurred in the City of Shillong (India) on the 5th of April 2016

Abstract

From the wide range of available literature it can be seen that HIW (High Intensity Winds) have a very significant effect on not only earth fixed structures but also on aviation structures aero planes or helicopters to be specific. Of the available HIW two important events have received wide attention namely Tornadoes and Downbursts. According the Glossary of Meteorology, a tornado is "A violently rotating column of air, pendant from a cumuliform cloud or underneath a cumuliform cloud, and often (but not always) visible as a funnel cloud." The United States has the most tornadoes of any country, as well as the strongest and most violent tornadoes. Other areas of the world that have frequent tornadoes include significant portions of Europe, South Africa, Bangladesh, parts of Argentina, Uruguay, and southern Brazil, New Zealand, and far eastern Asia. Bangladesh and the eastern parts of India are very exposed to destructive tornadoes causing higher deaths and injuries. Tornadoes happen mostly in eastern India, near Bangladesh during the pre-Monsoon seasons (also called Kalbaishikhi or Bordoisila). Tornadoes are even recorded in northern Indian areas, including Delhi, Punjab and Rajasthan. In 2015, two tornadoes were recorded in India one in Rajasthan & other in Punjab. Both were weak ones, but they did significant damage. In this regard, a tornado had occurred in the city of Shillong on 5^th of April 2016 in between 13.00–14.00 h. This paper attempts to highlight the field survey that was undertaken for studying the tornado and the possible rating of the tornado (EF2 has been arrived at).

Keywords: Shillong, India, tornado, survey, monsoon

Cite this Article

Gogoi and Das. Investigation of a Possibly EF2 Tornado that had Occurred in the City of Shillong (India) on the 5^th of April 2016. Journal of Aerospace Engineering and Technology. 2016; 6(2): 60–64p.