Do you know how cyclones are formed?!
Gunners & Ali - Ali's Random Facts
Thursday, 26 March 2026 - 2 minutes
With Cyclone Narelle making its way toward the WA coast, have you ever wondered how cyclones actually form?
It all starts out over really warm ocean water... we’re talking about 26 degrees or hotter.
That warm water heats the air above it, causing it to rise up into the sky.
As that warm air rises, it leaves a bit of a gap underneath — and more air rushes in to fill it.
Then that air heats up and rises too… and suddenly you’ve got this big cycle of swirling air.
Now here’s where it gets interesting... because the Earth is spinning, that rising air starts to twist, kind of like water going down a drain.
That’s what gives a cyclone its spin.
As long as the storm stays over warm water, it keeps getting stronger - pulling up more heat and moisture like fuel.
But once it moves over land or cooler water, it starts to weaken, because it’s lost its energy source.
So a cyclone is basically a giant spinning storm powered by warm ocean water… and that’s exactly what’s happening with Cyclone Narelle right now.
Source: Instagram: watercorporation
