Role of warm ocean conditions in the genesis and rapid intensification of tropical cyclone 'Tauktae' along the west coast of India.

Tropical cyclone 'Tauktae', in May 2021, was the strongest pre-monsoon cyclone that formed in the Arabian Sea after Kandla in 1998. It turned into an extremely severe cyclonic storm undergoing rapid intensification under favourable conditions. The current study is an effort to understand the role of warm ocean conditions favourable for the genesis and intensification of extremely severe cyclonic storm 'Tauktae'. Very high sea surface temperature anomaly (0.8–1.6°C) and high tropical cyclone heat potential (120–140 kJ/cm²) over the tropical cyclone genesis point and along the tropical cyclone track provided the conditions for the rapid intensification of the tropical cyclone 'Tauktae'. High sea surface temperature and tropical cyclone heat potential enhanced the accumulated cyclone energy of tropical cyclone 'Tauktae', which is very high when compared to the climatological mean. The presence of warm core eddies was seen in the area, where the tropical cyclone had rapidly intensified from a very severe cyclone to an extremely severe cyclonic storm from 16 to 17 May 2021. High sea surface temperature, tropical cyclone heat potential, and warm-core eddies create warm ocean conditions that provided continuous energy in the form of sensible and latent heat flux from the ocean surface to the atmosphere. Our analysis shows that along with the favourable atmospheric conditions, the excessively warm ocean led to the genesis and intensification of tropical cyclone 'Tauktae'. As the Arabian Sea continues to warm, it is inevitable to monitor and understand its effect on tropical cyclone genesis and intensification, which can open the way to predict and mitigate the catastrophic effect of such extreme weather events over India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]