eyewall
Quick Summary
The eyewall is the most dangerous and destructive part of a tropical cyclone. It is a ring-shaped region surrounding the storm's eye where winds are strongest and rainfall is heaviest. These powerful winds are driven by rapid changes in atmospheric pressure near the eye, creating a significant pressure gradient force.12
Within the eyewall, convective clouds rise from near the surface to altitudes of about 15,000 meters (49,000 feet). While horizontal wind speeds are highest here, vertical wind speeds can reach up to 5 to 10 meters per second (18 to 36 km per hour). The eyewall is typically located 15 to 30 km (10 to 20 miles) from the storm's center.1
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
tropical cycloneAnatomy of a cyclone…at the second region, the eyewall, which is typically 15 to 30 km (10 to 20 miles) from the centre of the storm. The eyewall in turn surrounds the interior region, called the eye, where wind speeds decrease rapidly and the air is often calm. These main structural regions are…
Read More…at the second region, the eyewall, which is typically 15 to 30 km (10 to 20 miles) from the centre of the storm. The eyewall in turn surrounds the interior region, called the eye, where wind speeds decrease rapidly and the air is often calm. These main structural regions are…
Read More
tropical cycloneThe eyewallThe most dangerous and destructive part of a tropical cyclone is the eyewall. Here winds are strongest, rainfall is heaviest, and deep convective clouds rise from close to Earth’s surface to a height of 15,000 metres (49,000 feet). As noted above, the high winds…
Read MoreThe most dangerous and destructive part of a tropical cyclone is the eyewall. Here winds are strongest, rainfall is heaviest, and deep convective clouds rise from close to Earth’s surface to a height of 15,000 metres (49,000 feet). As noted above, the high winds…
Read More