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Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Summary February 2000
[Summaries and Track Data] [Prepared by Gary Padgett]
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Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Summary February 2000 [Summaries and Track Data] [Prepared by Gary Padgett] |
MONTHLY GLOBAL TROPICAL CYCLONE SUMMARY
FEBRUARY, 2000
(For general comments about the nature of these summaries, as well as
information on how to download the tabular cyclone track files, see
the Author's Note at the end of this summary.)
***********************************************************************
SPECIAL NOTE by AUTHOR
Since August, 1999, most of the Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone
Summaries have been initially issued in two or three installments in
the interest of getting information out as quickly as possible.
However, after the final installment has been disseminated, I put
together all the sections into one complete summary and send this to
the several persons who archive the summaries. For those persons who
wish to archive their own copy of the summaries for future reference,
I would advise downloading the completed version from one of the web-
sites referenced at the end of each summary. I occasionally make
some corrections or revisions after the initial installments have been
mailed out, and in one case, I received some additional information
which was incorportated into the final version.
***********************************************************************
FEBRUARY HIGHLIGHTS
--> Extremely long-lived and far-traveled Indian Ocean cyclone wreaks
havoc in Madagascar and Mozambique
--> Rapidly forming cyclone strikes Cairns, Queensland--regenerates in
Gulf of Carpentaria
***********************************************************************
ACTIVITY BY BASINS
ATLANTIC (ATL) - North Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico
Activity for February: No tropical cyclones
***********************************************************************
NORTHEAST PACIFIC (NEP) - North Pacific Ocean East of Longitude 180
Activity for February: No tropical cyclones
***********************************************************************
NORTHWEST PACIFIC (NWP) - North Pacific Ocean West of Longitude 180
Activity for February: No tropical cyclones
***********************************************************************
NORTH INDIAN OCEAN (NIO) - Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea
Activity for February: No tropical cyclones
***********************************************************************
SOUTH INDIAN OCEAN (SIO) - South Indian Ocean West of Longitude 90E
Activity for February: 2 moderate tropical storms **
2 severe tropical storms ++
1 intense tropical cyclone (hurricane)
** - This based upon official classification from RSMC La Reunion.
Based upon JTWC warnings Tropical Storm Gloria briefly reached
minimal hurricane (cyclone) intensity.
++ - This total includes Tropical Storm Connie, which on 1 Feb was
still technically at severe tropical storm intensity, but was
rapidly weakening and by 2 Feb had weakened significantly and
was becoming extratropical.
The primary sources of information upon which the narrative is based
are the warnings issued by the TCWC on La Reunion Island, associated
with Meteo France, and which is the RSMC for the South Indian Ocean
basin. However, cyclones in this region are named by the sub-regional
centres on Mauritius and Madagascar with longitude 55E as the dividing
line between their respective areas. La Reunion only advises these
centres regarding the intensity of tropical systems. References to
sustained winds should be understood as meaning a 10-min averaging
period unless otherwise stated. In the accompanying tracks file
some position comparisons have been made with JTWC's positions, and
warnings from JTWC were used as a source of 1-min avg MSW estimates.
Also, the comments about satellite imagery and other sources of data
such as SSM/I and TRMM were obtained for the most part from the JTWC
warnings.
South Indian Ocean Activity for February
----------------------------------------
The month of February was quite active in the South Indian Ocean
west of longitude 90E. As indicated in the note above, former Tropical
Cyclone Connie was still active as the month began, but rapidly
disappeared from the scene. Short-lived Tropical Storm Damienne was
named on 1 Feb, but weakened rapidly on 2 Feb and dissipated later that
day. Felicia formed after mid-month out in the central South Indian
Ocean and reached severe tropical storm intensity, but ultimately
moved uneventfully to higher latitudes and weakened. At the end of
the month Tropical Storm Gloria formed just east of the northern tip
of Madagascar and made landfall there on 1 March. (JTWC briefly
classified Gloria as a cyclone (i.e., hurricane) when an eye became
visible along the coast as the storm made landfall.) Also, an area of
disturbed weather was becoming better organized out in mid-ocean as
February ended and became a tropical depression during the first few
days of March. This system will be covered in the March summary.
All this being said, the main tropical event of February was major
Tropical Cyclone Eline (formerly known as Leon in the Australian
Region). Leon had reached hurricane intensity on 6 Feb while well
off the coast of Western Australia, but had weakened to near minimal
cyclone (tropical storm) strength by the time it crossed 90E into the
Southwest Indian basin and was renamed Eline by Mauritius. The storm
almost dissipated, but managed to hang on and eventually traveled
across the entire southern Indian Ocean to make landfall in both
Madagascar and in Mozambique. Not only that, the cyclone underwent
remarkably rapid intensification shortly before each of the two
landfalls. The torrential rains of Tropical Cyclone Eline served
to exacerbate the already-severe and massive flooding taking place in
Mozambique.
Tropical Storm Damienne (TC-10S / SIO #5)
31 January - 2 February
------------------------------------------
An area of convection was mentioned in a STWO by JTWC at 0000 UTC
on 27 Jan southeast of Diego Garcia near 9S, 79E. A broad LLCC was
present but the convection was disorganized. Over the next few days
the disturbed area drifted westward, exhibiting persistent but still
disorganized convection. Moderate vertical shear was present over
the region and prevented the disturbance from intensifying rapidly.
The system remained quasi-stationary for several days roughly 300 nm
southeast of Diego Garcia. By 31 Jan animated infrared satellite
imagery indicated that convection was beginning to organize around
the LLCC somewhat, and JTWC upgraded the potential for development to
Fair. MFR initiated bulletins on the system at 31/0600 UTC,
designating it as disturbance #5. MSW were estimated at 25 kts with
local winds to 30 kts possible in some areas. The LLCC was rather
broad with the primary convection developing southwest of the center.
The disturbance was upgraded directly to Tropical Storm Damienne
at 0000 UTC on 1 Feb when it was located about 425 nm southeast of
Diego Garcia. JTWC had not initiated warnings at this juncture but
a Formation Alert was issued at 01/0130 UTC. SSM/I data indicated
a developing convective band west of the LLCC beginning to wrap around
the northeast quadrant of the system. 200-mb analysis showed an upper-
level ridge extending over Damienne. The MFR warning at 0600 UTC
increased the MSW to 40 kts and relocated Damienne's center about
115 nm east of the previous warning position. During the day
Damienne moved steadily almost due south. JTWC issued the first
warning at 1800 UTC when the storm was about 575 nm southeast of Diego
Garcia. JTWC's initial MSW estimate (1-min avg) was 45 kts, which
compares well with MFR's 10-min avg wind of 40 kts.
The initial JTWC warning forecast Damienne to strengthen to cyclone
(hurricane) intensity but this failed to materialize. A SSM/I pass
at 02/0025 UTC showed the deep convection to be sheared about 130 nm
southeast of the LLCC. The warning from La Reunion at 02/0600 UTC
relocated the center about 100 nm northwest of the 0000 UTC position
and downgraded Damienne to a tropical depression. The concurrent JTWC
warning lowered the MSW to 40 kts and indicated that Damienne was
tracking slowly southwestward at 7 kts. It was thought that a mid-
level HIGH positioned to the southeast of the storm would build north-
eastward over Cocos Island and steer Damienne into a more favorable
environment for strengthening, but the storm continued to track
southwestward and weaken. MFR issued the last bulletin at
02/1200 UTC and JTWC issued their last at 1800 UTC. A SSM/I pass
showed minimal convection associated with the system and that was
sheared well to the south of the LLCC. A scatterometer pass indicated
winds of only 10 kts near the LLCC, and CIMSS charts indicated that
strong vertical shear continued over the system. The final JTWC
position was about 630 nm south-southeast of Diego Garcia.
Tropical Cyclone Leon-Eline (TC-11S / SIO #6)
3 - 23 February
----------------------------------------------
Tropical Cyclone Leon-Eline was certainly one of the longest-lived
and farthest-traveled cyclones on record in the Southern Hemisphere.
From its inception south of Java on 3 Feb til its final dissipation
over Zimbabwe on 23 Feb, this great tropical cyclone's track spanned
80 degrees of longitude--almost one-quarter of the way around the
globe! The storm was not only noteworthy for its longevity and
track--it also made destructive landfalls in two countries after
having, in both instances, underwent very rapid intensification.
(This portion of the summary will cover the second part of the
cyclone's lifespan in the Southwest Indian basin--the first portion
of the storm's history as Leon east of 90E is detailed in the section
of this summary covering the Australian Region.)
Tropical Cyclone Leon reached an initial peak intensity of 70 kts
while in the Australian Region on 6 Feb, but had weakened considerably
by the time it crossed 90E into the Southwest Indian region. An upper-
level ridge axis to the north was creating shear over the system,
resulting in a fully-exposed LLCC with all the significant convection
sheared to the south. Both Perth and JTWC were estimating the
MSW at 40 kts as Leon exited the Perth AOR; however, JTWC did call
for the storm to move back into a more favorable environment after
48-72 hours. Leon entered the Mauritius/La Reunion AOR around
1500 UTC on 8 Feb at a point approximately 500 nm west-southwest of
Cocos Island, and, in accordance with long-standing practice, was
renamed Eline by the Mauritius Meteorological Service.
Over the next several days Tropical Storm Eline moved generally
westward across the wide expanse of the South Indian Ocean. On the
9th some convection tried to re-establish itself around the tightly-
wrapped LLCC, and MFR and JTWC increased the MSW estimates to 45 kts
at 0600 UTC. However, JTWC soon decreased their MSW (1-min) to 40 kts
and to 35 kts by 1200 UTC on 10 Feb, but MFR increased the 10-min avg
intensity to 50 kts (severe tropical storm level) from 09/1800 UTC
through 10/1800 UTC before downgrading Eline back to a moderate
tropical storm (MSW < 48 kts). Vertical shear associated with an
upper-level ridge axis to the south of Eline inhibited further
intensification but the storm was able to hold its own. The "low
point" in Eline's life seemed to come around 1200 UTC on 11 Feb when
MFR's and JTWC's MSW estimates were 35 and 30 kts, respectively.
The center of the weak tropical storm was located roughly 600 nm south
of Diego Garcia about this time.
By 12 Feb the vertical shear which had been inhibiting Eline's
further development had decreased somewhat and convection began
consolidating around the LLCC. Winds were up to 45 kts by late on
the 12th and further increased to 50 kts on the 13th as Eline had
become positioned under a 200-mb ridge axis. Ever since around
0000 UTC on 10 Feb the storm had been moving on a course ever so
slightly north of due west, and at 0600 UTC on 13 Feb had reached
a position about 220 nm north of Rodrigues Island. Soon after this,
however, Eline turned to a west-southwesterly course and began to
steadily intensify.
JTWC upped the MSW (1-min) to 70 kts at 14/0000 UTC, and MFR had
increased their 10-min avg estimate to 60 kts by 0600 UTC when the
storm was centered only about 50 nm south-southeast of St. Brandon.
A TRMM pass at 13/2101 UTC revealed an eye 12 nm in diameter with
good outflow in all quadrants. Later on the 14th the intensification
process reached a plateau as a mid- to upper-level trough southwest of
the system weakened the mid-level subtropical ridge and enhanced west-
northwesterly flow over Eline, causing the convection to be sheared
somewhat to the south. MFR brought down the intensity to 55 kts at
1800 UTC and JTWC decreased their MSW estimate to 65 kts at 15/1200
UTC. Severe Tropical Storm Eline continued on a west-southwesterly
course during this time, passing about 125 nm north of Mauritius
around 1800 UTC on 14 Feb and about 140 nm north of Reunion around
1200 UTC on the 15th. On Mauritius a peak gust of 71 kts was
recorded at Ft. William with attendant heavy rainfall which officially
ended the drought. The average rainfall over the island during the
period 12-16 Feb was 228 mm with a maximum of 405 mm (exact location
unknown). A 24-hour total of 182 mm was also recorded on 16-17 Feb.
(A special thanks to Arvind Mungur of London for passing along this
information to me.)
As the 15th progressed deep convection began to recover abit and
then held steady. MFR estimated the MSW (10-min) at 60 kts once more
at 1800 UTC, and then upgraded Eline to a tropical cyclone (hurricane)
with 65-kt winds at 0600 UTC on 16 Feb. JTWC maintained the storm
at 65 kts through the 16th as animated satellite imagery depicted a
partially-exposed LLCC with persistent deep convection. Water vapor
imagery showed some dry air entraining into the southeast quadrant,
and CIMSS charts indicated that Eline was still under some weak
vertical shearing. The cyclone turned to more of a westerly course
on the 16th and began to approach the east coast of Madagascar on
the 17th. By 1200 UTC the center was within 30 nm of the coast, and
landfall occurred near Mahanoro around 1500 UTC.
Tropical Cyclone Eline underwent a very significant intensification
in the 24 hours prior to landfall. MFR seemed to pick up on this
trend a little sooner than did JTWC with the 10-min avg winds up to
70 kts at 0000 UTC and to 75 kts at 0600 UTC while JTWC maintained
a 65-kt MSW (1-min avg). However, at 1200 UTC both centers reported
80 kts. The 1200 UTC warning from JTWC contained the statement that
a peak intensity of 85 kts had likely occurred at 0600 UTC, but the
subsequent warning at 18/0000 UTC indicated that a peak intensity of
90 kts (1-min avg) had occurred near the time of landfall (around
1500 UTC). Philippe Caroff, the Chief Forecaster at RSMC La Reunion,
expressed the opinion that Eline possibly reached a maximum 10-min avg
windspeed of 95 kts, or MSW (1-min) of 110 kts, about the time of
landfall.
Eline predictably weakened significantly while crossing over the
large, mountainous island of Madagascar, its winds dropping to around
30 kts. Even though over land, the system retained good outflow aloft
in all quadrants. The depression moved out over the Mozambique
Channel on the 19th and began to slowly regain strength with the
primary band of convection to the north of the LLCC. By late on
19 Feb Eline had regained tropical storm intensity with the MSW up
to 45 kts. On 20 Feb the storm continued to strengthen and reached
the severe tropical storm category with winds increasing to 55 kts.
Eline was located just south of an upper-level ridge axis and still
maintained good outflow aloft. A 19/2007 UTC TRMM pass showed well-
defined low-level cloud lines north of the LLCC with deep convection
confined to the southern and eastern quadrants. The storm was
experiencing some shear, but by 1200 UTC deep, persistent convection
was once again located over the LLCC.
Eline had initially trekked southwestward after exiting Madagascar,
but around 20/1200 UTC turned to a westward track once more. The
storm was centered roughly 300 nm east-southeast of Beira, Mozambique,
at this point. MFR upped the MSW to 60 kts at 21/0000 UTC (JTWC's
1-min MSW was 65 kts) and to 65 kts (cyclone intensity) by 1200 UTC.
JTWC's MSW estimate then was 70 kts, so this was good agreement between
the two. CIMSS charts showed an improved environment for further
strengthening with an upper-level trough to the southeast enhancing
outflow.
On 21 Feb Tropical Cyclone Eline turned to the northwest and its
forward motion slowed considerably (to 3 kts) as it approached the
Mozambique coast. At 22/0000 UTC the cyclone displayed a 32-nm wide
eye. Microwave imagery depicted concentric eyewall features with
strong rainbands. Winds had reached 90 kts (10-min avg) by this
time and continued to increase as the storm neared landfall. Eline
was being steered on the northwesterly course by a subtropical ridge
located to the south-southwest of the cyclone. Intense Tropical
Cyclone Eline began to make landfall about 40 nm south of Beira around
0300 UTC. MFR estimated the maximum 10-min avg winds to be around
100 kts at landfall. JTWC's 22/1200 UTC warning indicated that the
MSW (1-min avg) near the time of landfall was 115 kts, so this agrees
well with RSMC La Reunion's assessment. So once more this remarkable
cyclone had intensified rapidly from minimal cyclone strength into an
intense cyclone in about 18 hours when on the verge of making
landfall.
By 1200 UTC Eline was well inland about 50 nm southwest of Beira.
MFR had quickly downgraded the winds to 45 kts, but JTWC reported the
MSW (1-min avg) at 100 kts. This was based strictly on satellite
intensity estimates, however, and it seems quite unlikely that actual
sustained winds to 100 kts would still be occurring almost ten hours
after the center had made landfall--at least based on the behavior
of landfalling Atlantic hurricanes in the United States. By 0000 UTC
on 23 Feb the weakening Eline had moved west-northwestward into
eastern Zimbabwe and both JTWC and MFR issued their final warnings.
A well-defined cloud system could be seen in satellite imagery for
several days drifting slowly across the southern African continent.
Tropical Cyclone Eline was quite destructive to Madagascar. One
report received by the author indicated that 10,000 persons were
homeless and over 22,000 completely isolated due to flooding in the
wake of Eline and Tropical Storm Gloria which struck the northern
portion of the island in early March. The towns of Mahanoro and
Vatomandry were reportedly about 80% destroyed. A report from OCHA
(Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) dated 23 Feb
indicated that Eline caused six deaths on Madagascar--two deaths
were reported in Antananarivo, the capital, where roofs were blown
away and trees uprooted. However, these figures were rather early,
and in the author's opinion, the death toll was likely much higher.
There were some media reports which indicated that much of the populace
along the eastern coast of Madagascar had little advance warning of the
cyclone's approach.
In Mozambique the specific effects of Tropical Cyclone Eline are
very difficult, if not impossible, to distinguish from the disastrous
flooding already taking place when the storm made landfall. Heavier
than normal rainfall during the summer had led to widespread and severe
flooding beginning in late January, and had already reached disastrous
proportions by the time Eline made landfall in late February. About
all that can be said with certainty is that the cyclone exacerbated the
situation to some degree. Prior to Eline's arrival in Mozambique the
flooding had already displaced 300,000 people while affecting as many
as 800,000. Roads, bridges, and other infrastructure items were
severely damaged. As of the end of March one report stated that the
flooding was reponsible for over 1000 fatalities with over 4 million
persons displaced and/or significantly affected. The death toll could
likely be much higher as large numbers of bodies were swept away by
the flooding waters. Two small fishing boats were sunk off Beira
with the presumed loss of the crews.
A special thanks to Matthew Saxby, Jean Marc de Maroussem, Patrick
Hoareau, and Kelly Sponberg for sending me information on the effects
of Eline and the flooding disaster in Africa. For those who are
interested, much more information can be found at the following
website: http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf>
Tropical Storm Felicia (TC-12S / SIO #7)
19 - 24 February
-----------------------------------------
An area of convection had developed by 17 Feb near 13S, 81E in the
monsoon trough southeast of Diego Garcia. A scatterometer pass
indicated a broad LLCC with associated convection over a wide area.
CIMSS shear charts indicated weak vertical shear over the area with
fair outflow. By 19 Feb the disturbed area was approximately 400 nm
southeast of Diego Garcia with still poorly-organized but persistent
convection. MFR began issuing bulletins on disturbance #7 with winds
near the center of 25 kts but with some localized winds to 30 kts
possible well away from the center under the heavier convection.
The system was classified as a tropical storm by MFR at 20/0000 UTC
when it was located about 500 nm south-southeast of Diego Garcia,
and had been named Felicia by Mauritius by 0600 UTC. The 10-min avg
MSW were estimated at 40 kts. JTWC had not initiated warnings at
this time but did issue a Formation Alert at 0530 UTC. Felicia was
moving on a generally west-southwesterly course at this time which
later became more southwesterly.
The storm was temporarily downgraded to a tropical depression by
MFR at 1800 UTC but was reclassified as a tropical storm twelve hours
later. JTWC initiated warnings at 21/0000 UTC, placing the center
about 675 nm east-northeast of Rodrigues Island with 35-kt winds (1-min
avg). An ERS-2 scatterometer pass at 20/1815 UTC indicated an
elongated LLCC with winds of 25-30 kts to the west with strong
convection organizing on that side. Felicia was undergoing some
northeasterly shear but continued to slowly intensify as a band of
convection began to develop south of the center.
At 22/0000 UTC JTWC estimated the MSW (1-min) to be 45 kts based
on satellite intensity estimates of 30 and 55 kts. Microwave imagery
depicted strong convection organizing on the west side of the LLCC in
a developing banding feature. The storm had good outflow to the south
and fair in other quadrants. JTWC maintained the 45-kt MSW at 1200 UTC
but MFR increased their estimate to 55 kts at 0600 UTC and to 60 kts
by 1800 UTC. Felicia was located about 385 nm due east of Rodrigues
Island at 22/0000 UTC and thereafter began to move on more of a south-
southwesterly track.
JTWC assigned its peak MSW estimate of 50 kts at 23/0000 UTC. A
mid-level trough to the west was building equatorward and was expected
to turn Felicia to the south and then southeast, but the severe
tropical storm continued to move south-southwestward throughout its
life. Animated infrared and visible satellite imagery showed
convection being sheared to the southeast away from the LLCC--the shear
being caused by the approaching trough. At 1200 UTC JTWC decreased
the MSW (1-min) to 40 kts (based on CI numbers of 35 and 55 kts), but
MFR maintained Felicia at 60 kts through 1200 UTC, then began to
decrease the intensity estimates rather quickly.
At 0000 UTC on 24 Feb the weakening storm was still tracking south-
southwestward at 10 kts. JTWC assigned a MSW estimate of 30 kts and
wrote their last warning; MFR had decreased Felicia's intensity to
40 kts by this time. The storm displayed an exposed LLCC with
rapidly decaying convection being sheared southeastward; also, dry air
was starting to be entrained into the system. MFR wrote their final
warning at 0600 UTC, estimating the MSW (10-min) at 30 kts and judging
the system to be transitioning into an extratropical LOW. The final
MFR position placed the dissipating Felicia about 665 nm south-
southeast of Rodrigues Island.
Tropical Storm Gloria (TC-15S / SIO #8)
28 February - 5 March
----------------------------------------
At 27/0930 UTC JTWC issued a Formation Alert on a hitherto
previously unmentioned area of convection east of northern Madagascar,
with a LLCC located near 13.9S, 61.8E. Microwave imagery at 27/0155
UTC suggested that at least a well-defined mid-level circulation
had formed within the convective area. The cloud pattern was
becoming more circular and upper-level outflow was improving since
vertical shear across the region had decreased, and the Formation
Alert noted that rapid intensification might be possible due to the
well-developed mid-level circulation and the recent increase in deep
convection near the center. MFR initiated bulletins on the system
as disturbance #8 at 0600 UTC on the 28th when the system was located
roughly 600 nm east-southeast of the northern tip of Madagascar.
Winds were estimated at 25 kts with some 30-kt winds possible locally
in areas to the south of the center.
JTWC began issuing warnings at 1200 UTC with the MSW estimated at
30 kts (1-min avg). Convective organization had continued to improve
with good outflow to the west but restricted to the east. The system
was expected to intensify slowly due to moderate easterly shear.
At 29/0000 UTC JTWC upped the MSW to 35 kts and MFR upgraded the LOW
to a tropical depression. The depression was moving westward under
the steering influence of a large subtropical ridge to the south.
There was some moderate vertical shear present and the majority of
the deep convection was located west of the LLCC. JTWC increased the
MSW to 40 kts at 1200 UTC based on a convective bursting near the
center. Outflow was excellent to the west but poor to the east due
to the shear. At 29/1800 UTC the center of the depression was
located approximately 300 nm east of the northern tip of Madagascar
and was moving somewhat north of due west.
The system began to show definite signs of strengthening on 1 Mar.
JTWC had increased their MSW estimate to 45 kts at 0000 UTC and to
55 kts at 1200 UTC. The depression had become Tropical Storm Gloria
at 0600 UTC, and by 1200 UTC was moving southwestward at 9 kts.
Gloria's center made landfall in Madagascar around 1800 UTC near
Antsirabe. JTWC's MSW estimate (1-min avg) at landfall was 65 kts.
This was based on infrared imagery and a SSM/I pass at 1725 UTC which
showed a 15-nm wide closed eye along the coast. MFR's intensity
estimate at landfall was somewhat lower at 45 kts (10-min avg).
By 02/0000 UTC Gloria was inland over Madagascar and weakening.
JTWC reported the MSW to be 45 kts based on satellite intensity
estimates of 35 and 45 kts (the MFR warning at this time was not
available to the author). At 0600 UTC Gloria had weakened into
a depression and MFR issued its final warning. JTWC continued to
follow the weak system for the next three days as it drifted south-
westward across the northern and central portions of Madagascar.
Gloria's remnants maintained a LLCC fairly well for over 24 hours
after landfall, but gradually became more diffuse and difficult to
locate. Apparently JTWC continued to issue warnings since
re-intensification over the Mozambique Channel was consistently
forecast. The weak center appeared to have emerged into the Channel
by around 0600 UTC on 4 Mar. There was some isolated convection with
low-level cumulus and stratocumulus clouds wrapping into the LLCC.
By 1200 UTC some new convection was developing south and east of the
center.
At 0000 UTC on 5 Mar JTWC still forecast some very modest
intensification, but at 0600 UTC the final warning was written. The
weak and fully-exposed LLCC was located about 70 nm west of Morondava
with weak, isolated convection about 100 nm east of the center over
land. Synoptic data showed surface pressures near 1010 mb and winds
averaging less than 10 kts around the LLCC. 200-mb analysis and
CIMSS shear charts also revealed an environment unfavorable for
strengthening.
Tropical Storm Gloria brought heavy rainfall to northern Madagascar.
An island (Nosy Be) near northwestern Madagascar reported 165 mm of
rain in the 24 hours ending at 0600 UTC on 2 Mar (the monthly average
is 295 mm). Mananjary recorded 427 mm in a 48-hour period ending at
05/0600 UTC. (Mananjary's average monthly rainfall is 478 mm.) The
highest death toll available to the author was 137. Andapa was the
most severely affected city with 40 dead and 33 unaccounted for. Over
100 homes were destroyed there with widespread structural damage
occurring. Also, an outbreak of cholera added to the misery of the
population. The road linking this region to the capital was rendered
unpassable, and this was expected to have a substantial negative impact
on the region's economy. (A special thanks to Patrick Hoareau, Jean
Marc de Maroussem, and Matthew Saxby for passing along information on
the effects of Gloria in Madagascar.)
ADDENDUM to JANUARY SUMMARY
---------------------------
Arvind Mungur of London sent me some information on Tropical Cyclone
Connie which he had gleaned from the Mauritian daily _Le Mauricien_.
Connie passed about 130 nm northwest of Mauritius on 28 Jan and a peak
gust of 73 kts was recorded on the island with a 24-hour rainfall total
of 262 mm reported.
***********************************************************************
AUSTRALIAN REGION (AUG) - From Longitude 90E Eastward to Longitude 160E
Activity for February: 1 tropical LOW
1 tropical cyclone of gale intensity **
1 tropical cyclone of storm intensity
1 severe tropical cyclone (hurricane)
** - This system, Tropical Cyclone Marcia, was never carried as a
tropical cyclone by JTWC.
The primary sources of information for Australian Region tropical
cyclones are the warnings and bulletins issued by the three TCWCs
at Perth, Darwin, and Brisbane. Information gleaned from JTWC's
warnings is used as a supplement for times when it was impossible to
obtain Australian bulletins and for comparison purposes. References
to sustained winds should be understood as being based on a 10-min
averaging period unless otherwise noted.
Matthew Saxby, a tropical cyclone enthusiast from Queanbeyan, New
South Wales, Australia, typed up the tracks for the cyclones and LOWs
in the Australian Region. Also, Carl Smith, another dedicated tropical
cyclone enthusiast from the Gold Coast of Queensland, sent reports he
had written for Tropical Cyclones Steve, Leon, and Marcia. Also, Lori
Chappel of the Darwin TCWC sent me a report on Cyclone Steve's passage
through the Darwin AOR. Most of the material presented below is
based upon these reports. A special thanks to Lori, Carl and Matthew
for passing along the information to me.
A description of the Australian Cyclone Severity Scale can be found in
Chris Landsea's FAQ on HRD's website:
http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/tcfaqD.html#D2>
on Michael Bath's Australian Severe Weather site:
http://australiansevereweather.com/cyclones/history.htm>
or on the Australian Bureau of Meteorology's official website:
http://www.bom.gov.au/info/cyclone/>
Click on the link 'Cyclone Severity Categories'
Carl Smith has a website on which he has placed his full reports on
the various cyclones in the Australian Region this season, as well as
map animations which he has created for the storms. The URL is:
http://www.ace-net.com.au/~carls/current.htm>
Links to various reports and map animations can be found under the
link 'TC Reports & Map Animations'.
Australian Region Activity for February
---------------------------------------
Tropical cyclone activity in the Australian Region picked up
somewhat in February with three cyclones being named during the month
as opposed to only one in January. Tropical Cyclone Leon reached
hurricane intensity early in the month in the Southeast Indian Ocean,
weakened, then moved across 90E into the Southwest Indian basin to
become the long-lived and destructive Tropical Cyclone Eline. Marcia
was a short-lived, marginal cyclone which popped up around mid-month
in waters to the southeast of Cocos Island. Another tropical LOW
was getting organized off Western Australia as the month ended and
intensified into Severe Tropical Cyclone Norman in early March.
In the Coral Sea what appeared to be a rapidly developing midget
cyclone warranted three warnings from Brisbane on 19 Feb, but the
system just as quickly began to weaken. The first warning, issued
at 19/0100 UTC, had placed the LOW's center about 225 nm east-southeast
of Townsville, or near the Creal Reef AWS. At 1900 UTC on 18 Feb the
station had reported 10-min mean winds of 31 kts with the pressure
dropping to 1006.1 mb. Initially, the LOW displayed a good cloud
signature in visible satellite imagery through 19/0500 UTC as it was
under very diffluent upper-level flow. However, it then moved under
unfavorable southerly flow and weakened rapidly. The LOW moved
northeastward in the direction of Lihou Reef where it became stationary
and ill-defined. The LOW which was the precursor of Tropical Cyclone
Steve developed in the same general area a few days later and there is
a possibility that Steve was a redevelopment of the earlier LOW.
This second LOW intensified rapidly on 26 Feb while approaching the
Cairns, Queensland area into a near-hurricane. After weakening over
land, the ex-Steve LOW re-intensified in the Gulf of Carpentaria and
made a second landfall in the western Gulf region on 1 Mar, weakened
again, and later re-intensified a third time in the Southeast Indian
Ocean and made two more subsequent landfalls in Australia. I have
chosen to split the coverage of Steve between the February and March
summaries. (Most of the data on the LOW of 19 Feb came from Jeff
Callaghan of the Brisbane TCWC--a special thanks to Jeff for passing
the information along.)
Severe Tropical Cyclone Leon-Eline (TC-11S)
3 - 23 February
-------------------------------------------
On 3 Feb at 0100 UTC the Perth TCWC issued a High Seas Warning for
a 1000-mb tropical LOW which had developed about 325 nm east of
Christmas Island and was moving west-southwestward at 5 kts. At 1400
UTC JTWC issued a Formation Alert on the LOW. Animated infrared
satellite imagery revealed disorganised but persistent convection
associated with a LLCC. CIMSS analysis indicated weak to moderate
vertical shear over the area and animated water vapour imagery depicted
fair outflow aloft. JTWC issued their first warning for TC-11S at
04/0300 UTC with the MSW (1-min avg) estimated at 30 kts. Data from a
scatterometer pass indicated an elongated LLCC. About this time
a boat carrying 500 (apparently) refugees from the Middle East arrived
on Christmas Island, and the seas kicked up by the LOW were so rough
that the boat had to be escorted into a bay on the leeward side of the
island where the people were removed a few at a time by small boat.
At 0400 UTC BoM Perth upgraded the LOW to Tropical Cyclone Leon with
45-kt winds, located about 115 nm south-southeast of Christmas Island,
and moving west-southwestward at 10 kts. Leon quickly gained intensity
whilst moving on a track that became more southwesterly. Peak
intensity of 960 mb and 75-kt MSW (10-min avg) was attained at
1000 UTC on 5 Feb about 300 nm south-southwest of Christmas Island.
(This was per BoM Perth's analysis--JTWC reported the 1-min avg MSW
at only 55 kts at this point.) Following this, Perth's MSW dropped
slightly to 65 kts but then increased again to 70 kts by 06/0400 UTC.
JTWC's 1-min avg MSW estimate had also increased to 70 kts by this
juncture. Convective organisation had improved during this period
but enhanced infrared imagery showed that the cyclone was undergoing
some northeasterly shear. SSM/I imagery on the 6th revealed that the
LLCC was under the northeastern region of the convection and that the
convection had become more symmetric.
However, on 7 Feb warnings from both agencies indicated a weakening
trend as the upper-level anticyclone weakened and shifted east of the
LLCC, thereby increasing northerly vertical shear. Leon's track turned
to a westerly heading with the storm passing about 275 nm south of
Cocos Island around 0400 UTC on the 7th. Weakening continued as Leon
approached the western boundary of BoM Perth's AOR with most of the
significant convection sheared to the south of the LLCC. MSW were
down to around 40 kts by the time Leon crossed 90E into the Southwest
Indian basin at a point about 500 nm west-southwest of Cocos Island
and was renamed Eline by the Mauritius Meteorological Service.
Although at this point it looked as if Leon-Eline were on its last
leg, subsequent warnings from JTWC forecast a regeneration of the
system. While the storm remained quite weak for several days, it
did ultimately re-intensify and before it was through, had traveled
almost one-quarter of the way around the globe and made two destructive
landfalls in the western portion of the South Indian Ocean. The
history of this system as Tropical Cyclone Eline is detailed in the
section of this summary covering the Southwest Indian basin.
Tropical Cyclone Marcia
15 - 21 February
-----------------------
A Tropical Weather Outlook for the Central Indian Ocean issued by
BoM Perth at 0400 UTC on 15 Feb mentioned a 1000-mb tropical LOW
located about 290 nm east-southeast of Cocos Island. The first
warning, issued at 0900 UTC, located the center somewhat farther to
the south and east. The system remained basically quasi-stationary
over the next day or two with a slight increase in organisation.
The LOW was upgraded to Tropical Cyclone Marcia at 0300 UTC on 16 Feb
at a point roughly 325 nm east-southeast of Cocos Island. JTWC
issued a Formation Alert at 0500 UTC which stated that winds were
estimated to be 25-30 kts in the area. Animated visible and infrared
satellite imagery indicated a well-defined LLCC within the monsoon
trough with convection continuing to organise around the center.
By 1000 UTC the estimated CP and MSW (10-min avg) were 992 mb and
45 kts, respectively, and Marcia was moving east-southeastward at
3 kts. The Perth warning at 1600 UTC relocated Marcia's centre about
35 nm east of the previous warning position. The marginal cyclone
was looking less impressive by this time and winds were dropped to
40 kts. Perth issued their final warning at 17/0400 UTC with Marcia
centered about 375 nm south-southwest of Christmas Island. Winds were
expected to moderate below gale force within the next six hours.
Perth continued to mention the system in daily Tropical Weather
Outlooks for a couple of days, and JTWC issued daily Formation Alerts
through 19/0500 UTC, but never commenced issuing warnings. (If this
system had been in the Northwest Pacific basin where JTWC's warning
criteria is more liberal, likely it would have been classified as
a tropical depression.) The ill-defined LOW continued to drift
generally southeastward for a couple of days, as tracked by JTWC in
their daily STWOs, being last mentioned on 21 Feb when it was located
roughly over 400 nm to the south-southeast of Christmas Island.
Tropical Cyclone Steve (TC-14P)
25 February - 12 March
--------------------------------
On 25 Feb a developing tropical LOW with a CP of 1000 mb was located
approximately 300 nm east-southeast of Cooktown on the Queensland
coast. Satellite-derived wind data indicated extensive areas of west
to northwesterly winds averaging between 30 and 40 kts to the north
and northeast of the centre. (This LOW was possibly a redevelopment
of the LOW for which Brisbane issued three warnings on 19 Feb. See
comments in the introductory paragraphs above for more information
on the earlier system.) The system moved westward, slowly becoming
better organised, and by 26/1800 UTC was located about 115 nm east of
Port Douglas with the pressure having fallen to 996 mb. JTWC issued
its first warning at 1800 UTC, estimating the MSW (1-min avg) at
35 kts based upon satellite current intensity estimates of 30 kts
and a synoptic observation of a 10-min mean wind of 32 kts. Infrared
imagery indicated continued organisation of the system with convection
building over the LLCC.
At 2000 UTC, in a special marine warning, the Brisbane TCWC named
the LOW Tropical Cyclone Steve, placing the center about 100 nm east-
northeast of Cairns. The CP was reported as 994 mb and the maximum
10-min avg winds were estimated at 40 kts. Steve remained stationary
for several hours and then began to move generally on a west-
southwesterly track toward the coast. Animated water vapour imagery
revealed good outflow aloft--especially to the north--and weak vertical
wind shear across the region. Shortly after being named as a cyclone,
Steve began to intensify rather rapidly. By 27/0100 UTC the cyclone
was centered about 65 nm east-northeast of Cairns with the CP having
fallen to 988 mb and the MSW (10-min avg) estimated at 50 kts.
Cyclone Steve crossed the coastline in the Cairns area around 0900
UTC with an attendant CP of 975 mb and MSW (10-min avg) likely in
the 60-65 kt range. The eye passed very close to Green Island where
a 10-min mean wind of 62 kts with gusts to 85 kts was recorded at
0830 UTC. Landfall was slightly to the north of Cairns which measured
a maximum 10-min wind of 56 kts and peak gusts to 77 kts around 0851
UTC. The exact center seems to have passed over Kuranda which,
unfortunately, does not send in weather observations. The radius
of gales for Steve was very small--on the order of 15-20 nm. The
10-min avg maximum wind observations from Cairns and Green Island
would translate into a 1-min avg MSW of around 65-70 kts, making Steve
a minimal hurricane by Northern Hemisphere standards--well above the
40-kt MSW estimated by JTWC shortly before landfall. The contention
that midget cyclones are often much more intense than they sometimes
appear--an idea often espoused by Mark Lander--is certainly supported
by this case. (Most of the above meteorological information was sent
by Sue Oates of BoM Brisbane to Matthew Saxby, who in turn forwarded
it to Carl Smith and myself.)
Rainfall totals were not exceptionally large for a tropical cyclone.
Some of the higher totals from the area include Kuranda - 291 mm;
Mt. Sophia - 269 mm; and Mareeba - 218 mm. However, Cairns recorded
its wettest February on record with the suburb of Manunda measuring
1462.7 mm and Bartlefrere recording 3376 mm. In the Cairns area many
trees were uprooted and some buildings were unroofed. Hundreds of
homes reportedly suffered damage to some degree with more than 40,000
homes without electrical power. Many roads were blocked with downed
trees and the Bruce Highway was cut by flooding. In Cairns a really
giant fig tree was uprooted with the entire root system out of the
ground. It apparently became the "cool" thing for tourists to have
their photos taken standing by the tree--the root bowl being taller
than some adults of shorter stature.
By 1200 UTC Steve had been downgraded to a Category 1 cyclone on
the Australian Cyclone Scale when it was about 40 nm west of Cairns,
moving west at 16 kts. Some gales with gusts to 60 kts were still
being felt along the coast and adjacent inland areas between Cairns
and Port Douglas but were expected to ease within a few hours. The
final advice (for the time being) was issued by Brisbane at 1300 UTC,
downgrading Steve to a LOW which was continuing to move further inland
while weakening. The LOW moved somewhat to the west-southwest and
by around 0730 UTC on 28 Feb was located near Normanton, southeast
of the Gulf of Carpentaria. By 1330 UTC the system had changed
direction and was moving west-northwestward over water in the Gulf of
Carpentaria about 40 nm northwest of Karumba.
A strong mid-level circulation was maintained under a divergent
upper trough while the system was over land, and as soon as the center
moved back over water, the LOW began to regain intensity and was
renamed Cyclone Steve by Darwin at 28/2230 UTC. The cyclone was
located near Mornington Island and was moving west-northwestward at
8 kts. Gales with gusts to 65 kts were being experienced between
Mornington Island and the Queensland/Northern Territory border. After
regaining cyclone status Steve initially continued moving to the
west-northwest, then turned to a westerly course as it approached the
Northern Territory coast along the western Gulf of Carpentaria. With
warm SSTs and good to excellent upper-level outflow in all quadrants,
the storm intensified slightly with the MSW increasing to 45 kts (per
both Darwin and JTWC) by the time Steve made landfall around 0000 UTC
on 1 Mar near Bing Bong.
Centre Island reported gales from 2030-2230 UTC on 29 Feb as the
cyclone approached and passed just north of the AWS. The maximum
10-min mean wind was 38 kts at 2224 UTC with the peak gust of 50 kts
occurring at 2145 UTC. The cyclone moved across the Bing Bong port
office after passing Centre Island. A minimum pressure of 987 mb
was reported but mean winds were no more than 20-25 kts (as estimated
from white caps on the water visible from the office). A calm lasting
about 45 minutes was observed as the center passed by. Damage from
Steve in this portion of Australia was very light. No damage was
reported from Bing Bong, while Borroloola township, about 60 km inland
from Bing Bong, reported some uprooting of small trees.
After making its second landfall Tropical Cyclone Steve continued
westward across the Northern Territory, maintaining a strong low- to
mid-level circulation. Gale-force winds were observed in the Timor
Sea in the monsoon westerly flow to the north of the LOW and storm-
force wind gusts were observed across the Top End. The LOW moved just
south of the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf and into the Kimberley region of
Western Australia, and once more reformed into a cyclone just north
of Broome on 5 March. The subsequent history of Tropical Cyclone
Steve in the Timor Sea and Southeast Indian Ocean will be covered in
the March summary.
***********************************************************************
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC (SWP) - South Pacific Ocean East of Longitude 160E
Activity for February: 1 tropical depression
1 tropical cyclone of hurricane intensity
Most of the information presented below was taken from the
operational warnings and advisories issued by the Fiji TCWC at Nadi.
References to sustained winds imply a 10-minute averaging period
unless otherwise noted. Also, the basic definition of a cyclone in
WMO Region 5 (Australia and the South Pacific) has the unique
requirement that a depression must have gale-force winds more-or-less
completely surrounding the center before the system is named as a
tropical cyclone. Hence, often gales of 35-40 kts may be present in
one or two quadrants but the system is not considered a tropical
cyclone. Last season Fiji initiated their own numbering scheme for
tropical disturbances (01F, 02F, etc) that form in the Nadi AOR.
Some of the numbered disturbances never warrant depression status.
The report on Tropical Cyclone Kim was written by Alipate
Waqaicelua, Chief Forecaster at the Nadi TCWC, with only minimal
editing by myself. Also, I received some information on damage caused
by Kim from Steve Ready of the New Zealand Meteorological Service.
A very special thanks to Alipate and Steve for sending along the
information.
Southwest Pacific Activity for February
---------------------------------------
One tropical cyclone, Kim, came to life in the South Pacific east
of 160E during February, and surprisingly was unusually far to the east
of the normal cyclogenetical region--in the very edge of the tropics
to the southeast of French Polynesia. Most people expect tropical
cyclone formation to occur this far east only during warm ENSO events
(El Ninos), but according to information received from Steve Ready
of the New Zealand Meteorological Service, tropical cyclones of higher-
latitude origin do occasionally develop in this region during La Nina
seasons. In February, 1989, Tropical Cyclone Hinano developed
near 27.0S, 127.3W while at about the same time Tropical Cyclone Judy
formed near 19.0S, 152.0W. Both of these systems were midgets which
sported eyes in satellite imagery. Also, Tropical Cyclone Frances
became a hurricane near 25.0S, 150.0W in February, 1976, during another
strong La Nina. All three of these cyclones had a pronounced westerly
component to their tracks. Also, in some correspondence from months
back, Mark Lander mentioned that the Southeast Pacific was the only
area outside the North Atlantic and the Northwestern Pacific which
normally has a well-developed TUTT which occasionally helps to trigger
the formation of higher-latitude midget tropical cyclones.
In addition to Tropical Cyclone Kim, another system was designated
as Tropical Depression 13F at the end of the month. This depression
formed about 125 nm north of Noumea in New Caledonia on 28 Feb and
subsequently moved south-southeastward and into the Wellington AOR
on the 29th. Gale warnings were issued on 29 Feb as gale-force winds
were forecast to be occurring in the southern semicircle well-removed
from the center.
Tropical Cyclone Kim (TC-13P / TC-11F)
23 - 29 February
---------------------------------------
A tropical depression was analysed by RSMC Nadi over the south-
eastern parts of French Polynesia (near 23.3S, 134.0W), approximately
60 nm east-southeast of Rikitea or about 270 nm northwest of Pitcairn
Island at 23/1800 UTC, moving slowly northwestward. The system was
being subjected to significant shear as the LLCC was clearly exposed
at some distance northwest of the deep convection. Aloft, at 250 mb,
the depression was situated just west of an upper-level ridge axis. A
little over 24 hours later, no substantial change had occurred, except
for convection beginning to develop about the LLCC. However, by
24/1200 UTC, convection had erupted over the LLCC and cooled
considerably. Spiral bands were also better organised and wrapping
with more curvature amid the presence of some shear. At this time,
the depression was moving westward about 5 kts and was located just
west of Rikitea. The system continued to develop further through the
night, and by 24/1800 UTC was named Tropical Cyclone Kim about 40 nm
west of Rikitea or about 200 nm southeast of Mururoa.
Twelve hours later, at 25/0600 UTC, Kim attained storm force
(48 kts) and reached hurricane intensity at 25/1200 UTC after a ragged
eye was observed on satellite imagery only 18 hours after being named.
At this stage the cyclone was being steered west-southwestward with
anticipation of a gradual turn and eventual southwesterly track into
New Zealand's AOR. Kim continued to intensify with deep convection
cooling further and the rather broad eye at 25/1800 UTC becoming
well-defined and contracting. After 26/0000 UTC the cyclone also
gradually picked up speed under the strengthening mid-level north-
easterly steering regime. Primary responsibility for warnings on
Tropical Cyclone Kim was handed over to New Zealand after 26/0600 UTC.
Tropical Cyclone Kim reached its peak intensity of 80 kts (10-min
avg) six hours later at 1200 UTC, still moving to the southwest. The
storm was then located over 500 nm west of Pitcairn Island or more
than 700 nm southeast of Tahiti. The estimated minimum CP in Kim was
955 mb, and the estimated peak 1-min avg MSW from NPMOC was 100 kts,
which agrees quite well with Wellington's assessment. After reaching
its peak, the cyclone began to steadily weaken as it continued to trek
toward the southwest over increasingly cooler SSTs. By 29/0600 UTC
Kim was becoming extratropical as it still moved southwestward nearly
1000 nm south of Tahiti.
No damage reports have been received as yet, even though, from its
track, it can be inferred that damage, if any, especially in Rikitea,
would be either minimal or negligible. Kim was probably a hybrid
(with more baroclinic traits) that gradually and eventually developed
deep convection all around the LLCC and hence attained tropical
cyclone characteristics further south than usual. Kim developed in an
area of a fairly warm SST anomaly--approximately 2 to 3 deg Celsius
warmer than average.
Some information received later from Steve Ready of the New Zealand
Meteorological Service: During the early stages of its development,
Kim passed over the islands of Rikitea about 1200 UTC on 24 Feb.
Rikitea recorded a maximum 10-min avg wind of 27 kts, a peak gust of
52 kts, and a minimum pressure of 996 mb. During its hurricane phase
Kim passed to the east and south of the island of Rapa on 27 and 28
Feb. The lowest pressure of 995.8 mb was reported when the eye was
located about 80 nm from the island. The maximum 10-min avg wind was
less than 30 kts and the peak gust was 74 kts. Rapa lay on the more
sheltered side of the cyclone. According to Jacki Pilon, Meteo France
in French Polynesia, there was no loss of life and material damage
was relatively minor--just a few trees were uprooted and a few less
substantial homes lost their corrugated iron roofing.
***********************************************************************
EXTRA FEATURE
In order to shorten the amount of typing in preparing the narrative
material, I have been in the habit of freely using abbreviations and
acronyms. I have tried to define most of these with the first usage
in a given summary, but I may have missed one now and then. Most of
these are probably understood by a majority of readers but perhaps a
few aren't clear to some. To remedy this I developed a Glossary of
Abbreviations and Acronyms which I included in the July, 1998 summary.
I will include this glossary from time to time, primarily in "lean"
months without a lot of tropical cyclone activity to cover. But if
anyone missed receiving it and wishes to obtain a copy, send me an
e-mail privately and I'll forward them a copy.
***********************************************************************
AUTHOR'S NOTE: This summary should be considered a very preliminary
overview of the tropical cyclones that occur in each month. The cyclone
tracks (provided separately) will generally be based upon operational
warnings issued by the various tropical cyclone warning centers. The
information contained therein may differ somewhat from the tracking and
intensity information obtained from a "best-track" file which is based
on a detailed post-seasonal analysis of all available data. Information
on where to find official "best-track" files from the various warning
centers will be passed along from time to time.
The track files are not being sent via e-mail. They can be retrieved
in the following manner:
(a) FTP to: hrd-type42.nhc.noaa.gov [140.90.176.206]
(b) Login as: anonymous
(c) For a password use your e-mail address
(d) Go to "data" subdirectory (Type: cd data)
(e) Set file type to ASCII (Type: ascii)
(f) Transfer file (Type: get remote_file_name local_file_name )
(The files will be named with an obvious nomenclature--using
February as an example: feb00.tracks)
(g) To exit FTP, type: quit
Both the summaries and the track files are standard text files
created in DOS editor. Download to disk and use a viewer such as
Notepad or DOS editor to view the files.
The first summary in this series covered the month of October,
1997. If anyone wishes to retrieve any of the previous summaries,
they may be downloaded from the aforementioned FTP site at HRD. The
summary files are catalogued with the nomenclature: feb00.sum, for
example.
Back issues can also be obtained from the following websites
(courtesy of Michael Bath, Michael V. Padua, Tom Berg, Michael
Pitt, and Rich Henning):
http://australiansevereweather.com/cyclones/>
http://www.geocities.com/capecanaveral/6825>
http://www.hcane.com/tropcl.html>
http://www.qisfl.net/home/hurricanemike>
http://www.met.fsu.edu/gsc/Docs/Grads/henning/cyclones/>
Another website where much information about tropical cyclones may
be found is the website for the UK Meteorological Office. Their site
contains a lot of statistical information about tropical cyclones
globally on a monthly basis. The URL is:
http://www.met-office.gov.uk/sec2/sec2cyclone/sec2cyclone.html>
TROPICAL CYCLONE REPORTS AVAILABLE
I have discovered that JTWC now has available on its new website
the complete Annual Tropical Cyclone Report (ATCR) for 1998 (1997-1998
season for the Southern Hemisphere). Also, ATCRs for earlier years
are available also.
The URL is: http://199.10.200.33/jtwc.html>
Also, TPC/NHC has available on its webpage nice "technicolor"
tracking charts for the 1999 Atlantic and Eastern North Pacific
tropical cyclones; also, preliminary storm reports for all the 1999
Atlantic and Eastern North Pacific tropical cyclones are now available.
The URL is: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov>
Prepared by: Gary Padgett
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 334-222-5327 (nights & weekends) / 850-882-2594 (weekdays)
***********************************************************************
***********************************************************************
|
Document: summ0002.htm
Updated: 4th January 2007 |
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