[Index]
Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Summary January 2002
[Summaries and Track Data] [Prepared by Gary Padgett]
| Tropical
Cyclones
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Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Summary January 2002 [Summaries and Track Data] [Prepared by Gary Padgett] |
MONTHLY GLOBAL TROPICAL CYCLONE SUMMARY
JANUARY, 2002
(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.)
***********************************************************************
JANUARY HIGHLIGHTS
--> First Australian tropical cyclone of season forms
--> First tropical storm of year in Northwest Pacific forms
--> Intense tropical cyclone brushes Mauritius and Reunion Island
--> Tropical storm damages Madagascar
***********************************************************************
***** Feature of the Month for January *****
TROPICAL CYCLONE NAMES for the NORTHWEST PACIFIC BASIN
Beginning in 2000 tropical storms and typhoons forming in the North
Pacific west of the Dateline are assigned names by JMA taken from a
new list of Asian names contributed by fourteen nations and territories
from the western Pacific and eastern Asia. Names are not allocated
in alphabetical order and the majority are not personal names--instead
names of animals, plants, fictional characters, descriptive adjectives,
places--even foods--are utilized. The entire list consists of 140
names and all names will be used before any are repeated. The last
name assigned in 2001 was Vamei in late December while three tropical
cyclones have already been named in 2002. The next storm to develop
will be named Noguri--the South Korean name for an animal (raccoon
dog).
The next 36 names on the list are (** indicates name has already
been assigned in 2002):
Tapah ** Kalmaegi Mekkhala Linfa
Mitag ** Fung-wong Higos Nangka
Hagibis ** Kammuri Bavi Soudelor
Noguri Phanfone Maysak Imbudo
Rammasun Vongfong Haishen Koni
Chataan Rusa Pongsona Morakot
Halong Sinlaku Yanyan Etau
Nakri Hagupit Kujira Vamco
Fengshen Changmi Chan-hom Krovanh
Since 1963 PAGASA has independently named tropical cyclones forming
in the Philippines' AOR--from 115E to 135E and from 5N to 25N (except
for a portion of the northwestern corner of the above region). Even
though the Philippines contributed ten names to the international list
of typhoon names, PAGASA still continues to assign their own names for
local use within the Philippines. It is felt that familiar names are
more easily remembered in the rural areas and that having a PAGASA-
assigned name helps to underscore the fact that the cyclone is within
PAGASA's AOR and potentially a threat to the Philippines. Another
consideration may be PAGASA's desire to assign a name when a system is
first classified as a tropical depression. Since tropical and/or
monsoon depressions can bring very heavy rainfall to the nation which
often results in disastrous flooding, the weather service feels that
assigning a name helps to enhance public attention given to a system.
Beginning with 2001 PAGASA began using new sets of cyclone names.
These do not all end in "ng" as did the older names. Four sets of 25
names will be rotated annually; thus, the set for 2002 will be re-used
in 2006. In case more than 25 systems are named in one season, an
auxiliary set will be used. PAGASA names for 2002 are (** indicates
name has already been assigned in 2002):
Agaton ** Juan Rapido
Basyang ** Kaka Sibasib
Caloy ** Lagalag Tagbanwa
Dagul ** Milenyo Usman
Espada Neneng Venus
Florita Ompong Wisik
Gloria Paeng Yayang
Hambalos Quadro Zeny
Inday
In the unlikely event that the list is exhausted, the following
names would be allocated as needed: Agila, Bagwis, Ciriaco, Diego,
Elena, Forte, Gunding, Hunyango, Itoy, and Jessa.
**** Index to Feature of the Month Articles for 2001 ****
Jan - TROPICAL CYCLONE NAMES for the NORTHWEST PACIFIC BASIN
(also Index to Feature of the Month Articles for 2000)
Feb - An Eyewitness Account of a Very Intense Cyclone
Mar - Western Hemisphere Tropical Cyclone Names for 2001
(also Charts of Monthly Net Tropical Cyclone Activity (NTC))
Apr - REVIEW OF GLOBAL TROPICAL CYCLONE TERMINOLOGY
May - RESULTS OF TROPICAL CYCLONE SURVEY - PART 1
SIZE AS A POSSIBLE CLASSIFICATION CRITERION
Jun - RESULTS OF TROPICAL CYCLONE SURVEY - PART 2
CLASSIFICATION OF TROPICAL VS SUBTROPICAL CYCLONES
Jul - RESULTS OF TROPICAL CYCLONE SURVEY - PART 3
WARNING STRATEGIES FOR SUBTROPICAL/HYBRID CYCLONES
Aug - RESULTS OF TROPICAL CYCLONE SURVEY - PART 4
MONSOON DEPRESSIONS
Sep - SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE TROPICAL CYCLONE NAMES
2001 - 2002 SEASON
Oct - AN UNREPORTED SOUTHWEST INDIAN OCEAN CYCLONE
Nov - ROUNDUP OF THE 2001 ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON
Dec - A SURVEY OF VERY LOW-LATITUDE TROPICAL CYCLONES
***********************************************************************
ACTIVITY BY BASINS
ATLANTIC (ATL) - North Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico
Activity for January: No tropical cyclones
***********************************************************************
NORTHEAST PACIFIC (NEP) - North Pacific Ocean East of Longitude 180
Activity for January: No tropical cyclones
***********************************************************************
NORTHWEST PACIFIC (NWP) - North Pacific Ocean West of Longitude 180
Activity for January: 1 tropical storm
Sources of Information
----------------------
Most of the information presented below is based upon tropical
cyclone warnings and significant tropical weather outlooks issued
by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center of the U. S. Air Force and
Navy (JTWC), located at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. In the companion
tropical cyclone tracks file, I normally annotate track coordinates
from some of the various Asian warning centers when their center
positions differ from JTWC's by usually 40-50 nm or more. All
references to sustained winds imply a 1-minute averaging period
unless otherwise noted.
Michael V. Padua of Naga City in the Philippines, owner of the
Typhoon 2000 website, normally sends me cyclone tracks based upon
warnings issued by the Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA) and the
Philippines' Atmospheric, Geophysical & Astronomical Services
Administration (PAGASA). Also, Huang Chunliang of Fuzhou City, China,
sends me each month tracks obtained from warnings issued by the
National Meteorological Center of China (NMCC), the Central Weather
Bureau of Taiwan (CWBT) and the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO). A very
special thanks to Michael and Chunliang for the assistance they so
reliably provide.
In the title line for each storm I have referenced all the cyclone
names/numbers I have available: JTWC's depression number, the
JMA-assigned name (if any), JMA's tropical storm numeric designator,
and PAGASA's name for systems forming in or passing through their
area of warning responsibility.
Northwest Pacific Tropical Activity for January
-----------------------------------------------
The Northwest Pacific basin did not have to wait very long into the
new year to see some tropical action. An area of convection noted on
the 8th southeast of Yap subsequently developed into the year's first
tropical depression and tropical storm, which was named Tapah by Japan.
Tropical Storm Tapah brushed the east coast of Luzon before dissipating
near the northern tip of the island.
TROPICAL STORM TAPAH
(01W / TS 0201 / Agaton)
9 - 14 January
--------------------------------------------
Tapah: contributed by Malaysia, is a giant freshwater catfish, the
largest of the Malaysian freshwater fish
A. Storm Origins
----------------
An area of convection developed on 8 January approximately 290 nm
southeast of Yap. Animated multi-spectral imagery and a 08/0000 UTC
surface analysis revealed the existence of a weak LLCC embedded in a
broad monsoon trough. A CIMSS upper-air analysis indicated that the
disturbance was located in a region of weak to moderate vertical shear
south of an upper-level ridge axis. By 09/0000 UTC the system was
located about 125 nm south-southeast of Yap. Multi-spectral imagery
and a 08/2047 UTC QuikScat pass revealed a better-defined LLCC with
cycling deep convection. A CIMSS analysis indicated that the upper-
level environment was favorable for strengthening, hence, JTWC upgraded
the development potential to fair.
JTWC issued a TCFA at 09/2030 UTC when the system was centered about
160 nm west-northwest of Yap. Animated satellite imagery depicted a
developing LLCC, although convection was still cycling in intensity,
and a 200-mb analysis indicated diffluent easterlies aloft. The
disturbance had entered PAGASA's AOR by 0600 UTC on the 10th and
warnings were initiated on Tropical Depression Agaton (a Filipino male
name). JTWC issued the first warning on Tropical Depression 01W six
hours later when the center was roughly 140 nm north-northwest of
Palau, moving west-northwestward at 6 kts. The initial MSW was
estimated at 30 kts. (The JMV file indicates that in post-storm
analysis, the depression stage was retroactively extended backward to
09/1800 UTC.) The LLCC had continued to move closer to the persistent
deep convection in the northwest quadrant, and the latest QuikScat
pass indicated that the strongest winds were located in the northern
semicircle within about 60 nm of the center.
Tropical Depression 01W/Agaton was moving west-northwestward toward
the Philippine Archipelago, steered by a low to mid-level ridge to the
north. By 11/0600 UTC some of the satellite intensity estimates had
reached 35 kts, and by 1200 UTC more CI's of 35 kts were received by
JTWC, hence, the depression was upgraded to tropical storm intensity
at 1200 UTC when located 570 nm east-southeast of Manila, or about
375 nm east-southeast of Catanduanes Island. The LLCC had by that
time moved under the deep convection, and the west-northwesterly
motion had picked up a bit to 10 kts. PAGASA upgraded 01W/Agaton
to tropical storm intensity at 1800 UTC, but JMA did not upgrade the
system for another twelve hours.
B. Track and Intensity History
------------------------------
At 0600 UTC on 12 January JTWC increased the MSW to 45 kts, based
on CI estimates of 45 and 55 kts. At the same time, JMA upgraded the
system to Tropical Storm Tapah. Six hours later Tapah reached its peak
intensity of 50 kts when located only about 65 nm east of Catanduanes
Island (or 260 nm east of Manila). The cyclone was moving northwest-
ward at 16 kts, and animated infrared satellite imagery revealed a
low-level eye feature previously hidden under the CDO. Deep
convection, however, continued to cycle in intensity. By 1800 UTC
Tapah was experiencing some shear with most of the deep convection
sheared to the north of the LLCC. Satellite intensity estimates had
dropped to 30 and 45 kts, so JTWC lowered the MSW back to 45 kts.
At 13/0600 UTC the intensity was further lowered to 40 kts (based on
CI estimates of 35 to 55 kts).
An approaching mid-latitude trough weakened the ridge which had been
steering Tapah on its west-northwestward track, and by 1200 UTC the
storm was tracking north-northwestward at 14 kts off the east coast
of Luzon. The deep convection was still cycling in intensity, but
overall the cyclone was weakening. JMA and HKO downgraded Tapah to a
tropical depression at 13/1200 UTC, and JTWC and PAGASA followed suit
at 1800 UTC, based on CI estimates of 30 kts and available surface
data. JTWC (and PAGASA) issued the final warning on Tapah at 0000 UTC
on 14 January with the center located just north of the northern tip
of Luzon. The MSW was estimated at only 20 kts, based on CI estimates
of 25 kts and surface data reports. The dissipating convection was
located to the north-northeast of the partially-exposed center in a
high vertical shear environment.
C. Comparisons Between JTWC and Other Centers
---------------------------------------------
Intensity estimates between the various warning centers compared
very well for Tropical Storm Tapah. JMA's and NMCC's peak 10-min avg
sustained wind of 40 kts agrees closely with JTWC's peak 1-min avg MSW
of 50 kts. PAGASA, however, reported a more intense storm with peak
10-min avg winds of 50 kts, equivalent to about 55-60 kts 1-min avg
MSW. Center position coordinates were in remarkably good agreement
for such a relatively weak tropical storm.
D. Damage and Casualties
------------------------
No reports of damage or casualties resulting from Tropical Storm
Tapah have been received by the author.
***********************************************************************
NORTH INDIAN OCEAN (NIO) - Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea
Activity for January: No tropical cyclones
North Indian Ocean Tropical Activity for January
------------------------------------------------
As the month opened, the remnants of former Typhoon Vamei (32W) were
dissipating in the southern Bay of Bengal. No other tropical cyclones
were observed in the North Indian Ocean basin during the month.
***********************************************************************
SOUTHWEST INDIAN OCEAN (SWI) - South Indian Ocean West of Longitude 90E
Activity for January: 1 severe tropical storm
1 tropical cyclone
1 intense tropical cyclone
Sources of Information
----------------------
The primary sources of tracking and intensity information for
Southwest Indian Ocean tropical cyclones are the warnings issued by
the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre on La Reunion Island, part of
Meteo France (MFR), and the Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre
for the basin. However, tropical cyclones in this region are named
by the sub-regional warning centres on Mauritius and Madagascar with
longitude 55E being the demarcation line between their respective
areas of warning responsibility. The La Reunion centre only advises
these agencies regarding the intensity of tropical systems. References
to sustained winds imply a 10-minute averaging period unless otherwise
stated.
In the companion tropical cyclone tracks file, I occasionally
annotate positions from warnings issued by the Joint Typhoon Warning
Center (JTWC) of the U. S. Air Force and Navy, located at Pearl
Harbor, Hawaii, when they differ from MFR's coordinates by usually
40-50 nm or more. The JTWC warnings are also the source of the
1-minute average maximum sustained wind values included in the
tracks file. Additionally, information describing details of
satellite imagery and atmospheric circulation features included in
the narratives is often gleaned from the JTWC warnings.
Southwest Indian Ocean Tropical Activity for January
----------------------------------------------------
After lying quiescent for a month, the Southwest Indian Ocean basin
re-awakened at the end of December. A tropical disturbance which
formed in the Mozambique Channel late in December, 2001, subsequently
developed into Severe Tropical Storm Cyprien, which made landfall in
Madagascar and was responsible for considerable damage. After another
two quiet weeks, intense Tropical Cyclone Dina formed in the central
Indian Ocean and brushed Mauritius and Reunion, bringing some very high
winds to the islands. While Dina was operating in the western portion
of the basin, Tropical Cyclone Eddy formed in the eastern extremity of
the region (just west of 90E) and followed a southerly trajectory into
subtropical latitudes, reaching minimal cyclone (hurricane) intensity
along the way.
TROPICAL STORM CYPRIEN
(MFR 05 / TC-08S)
30 December - 3 January
-------------------------------------------
A. Storm Origins
----------------
JTWC issued a STWO at 2230 UTC on 29 December which noted that an
area of convection had developed in the Mozambique Channel about 50 nm
east of Beira, Mozambique. Animated infrared imagery indicated that
a possible LLCC existed on the western side of the deep convection.
A 200-mb analysis and CIMSS shear products indicated that the system
lay beneath an upper-level ridge axis with marginal vertical shear.
MFR began issuing bulletins on the disturbance at 0600 UTC on the 30th.
By 1800 UTC the LOW was centered approximately 90 nm east of Beira.
While animated visible satellite imagery depicted a LLCC on the western
side of the convection, a 30/1323 UTC TRMM pass revealed that there was
little organization in the low-level flow or in the convection.
At 0900 UTC on 31 December JTWC issued a TCFA for the disturbance,
which was by then located about 330 nm west of Madagascar. Satellite
animation revealed a closed LLCC with increasing convective curvature
noted during the previous few hours. Most of the deep convection was
in the southeastern quadrant, but CIMSS analysis products indicated
that the LLCC was in a region of weak to moderate shear with favorable
outflow aloft. MFR upgraded the disturbance to tropical depression
status with 30-kt winds at 01/0000 UTC. The warning noted that winds
to gale force might be occurring in isolated spots in the eastern
quadrant up to 100 nm from the center.
B. Track and Intensity History
------------------------------
By 0600 UTC the depression had rapidly become better organized and
was upgraded to Tropical Storm Cyprien, located about 230 nm northwest
of Tulear on the southwestern coast of Madagascar. Both MFR and JTWC
estimated the intensity at 45 kts (10-min and 1-min averages respect-
ively). Satellite CI estimates (as reported by JTWC) were only 30 and
35 kts, but a 01/0322 UTC QuikScat pass indicated unflagged winds of
40-45 kts. The LLCC was partially-exposed west of the deep convection.
Cyprien was tracking eastward under the steering influence of a low to
mid-level subtropical HIGH to the north.
By 1800 UTC Cyprien's center was located approximately 145 nm north-
northwest of Tulear, moving east-southeastward at 9 kts. Dvorak
intensity estimates had dropped to 35 and 45 kts, but a recent Quik-
Scat pass had indicated some rain-contaminated winds of 50 kts over the
southern semicircle. MFR had upped the MSW to 55 kts at 1200 UTC where
it remained for 18 hours. Water vapor imagery indicated that moderate
to strong westerlies were affecting the storm. The combination of the
subtropical ridge to the north and an approaching mid-latitude trough
from the southwest were expected to steer Cyprien on a southeastward
track toward Madagascar.
At 0600 UTC on 2 January, Cyprien's center was moving inland over
Madagascar near Morombe. MFR's estimated 10-min avg MSW was 50 kts
while JTWC's 1-min avg MSW was 45 kts. A synoptic report of 43 kts
(presumably a 10-min avg) was received from Morombe (WMO 67131) with
an attendant SLP of 992 mb. By 1800 UTC the weakening tropical storm
was located inland near Toliara. Satellite CI estimates were 30 and
35 kts while a report of 29 kts was received from Toliara (WMO 67161).
All the deep convection had been sheared east of the center. The 1800
UTC warning was JTWC's last, reporting the MSW (1-min avg) at 35 kts,
but MFR estimated the 10-min avg MSW at 45 kts. Cyprien was down-
graded to a tropical depression at 03/0000 UTC, although some limited
areas were still experiencing gale-force winds. Morombe reported
winds to 35 kts at 0000 UTC with a SLP of 1001 mb, and six hours later
the wind was southwest at 29 kts. (Thanks to Patrick Hoareau for
sending me the Morombe observations.) La Reunion issued their final
bulletin on the dissipating Cyprien at 03/0600 UTC.
C. Comparisons Between JTWC and Other Centers
---------------------------------------------
JTWC's peak 1-min avg MSW estimate of 50 kts is equivalent to a
10-min avg MSW of about 45 kts--somewhat lower than MFR's maximum
10-min avg intensity of 55 kts. However, the difference is not that
great, and the two centers agree that Cyprien did not reach cyclone
(i.e., hurricane) intensity. Center position coordinates from the
two warning centers were in good agreement.
D. Damage and Casualties
------------------------
Tropical Storm Cyprien was responsible for some moderate damage in
portions of Madagascar. In the Morombe district, where the storm made
landfall, about 900 persons were affected with 180 houses destroyed.
In addition sixteen administrative buildings were destroyed. In the
Morondova district, 1000 persons were adversely affected with 661
houses destroyed. Two persons were also reported missing near Morombe.
Total damage in Madagascar resulting from Cyprien was estimated at
$181,000 (US).
TROPICAL CYCLONE DINA
(MFR 06 / TC-10S)
17 - 26 January
-----------------------------------------
A. Storm Origins
----------------
An area of convection developed on 15 January about 600 nm east of
Diego Garcia within a region of moderate vertical shear. Animated
visible satellite imagery suggested that a weak LLCC had developed.
The next day the disturbed area was relocated to a position approxi-
mately 325 nm east of Diego Garcia. Cycling convection was noted in
association with a weak LLCC located within a broad trough. MFR issued
a tropical disturbance bulletin at 1200 UTC, and at 17/0030 JTWC
upgraded the development potential to fair.
Early on 17 January animated visible imagery indicated increasing
organization of the system, and a SSM/I pass at 17/0309 UTC and a
partial TRMM pass at 17/0328 UTC both indicated increasing consoli-
dation of convection near the LLCC with developing banding in the
northwest semicircle. Also, a 200-mb analysis indicated weak to
moderate vertical shear with strong diffluence aloft. At 0630 UTC
JTWC issued a TCFA for the system which was then located about 200 nm
east-southeast of Diego Garcia. The disturbance continued to develop
rather rapidly and at 1200 UTC Mauritius upgraded the system to
Tropical Storm Dina. Dina was initially located approximately 220 nm
south-southeast of Diego Garcia, moving southwestward at 22 kts with
maximum 10-min mean winds estimated at 35 kts.
B. Track and Intensity History
------------------------------
At 1800 UTC on 17 January Tropical Storm Dina was passing about
230 nm south of Diego Garcia, moving southwestward at 14 kts. A
mid-level ridge to the south was forecast to steer Dina on a south-
westward course for the next few days. The 10-min avg MSW estimate
from MFR was 45 kts. (Also at 17/1800 UTC, JTWC issued their first
warning on the storm with a 1-min avg MSW of 55 kts, based on CI
estimates of 35 to 55 kts.) A recent SSM/I pass indicated a developing
eyewall. Dina continued to move along rather briskly to the south-
west. At 18/0600 UTC the storm was located 410 nm south-southwest of
Diego Garcia and moving southwestward at 18 kts. Winds were up to
60 kts by this time, and MFR upgraded Dina to tropical cyclone status
with 65-kt winds at 1200 UTC when located approximately 450 nm north-
east of Rodrigues Island. An 18/0716 UTC METSAT-5 image had depicted
a well-defined 17-nm diameter eye.
By 0600 UTC on the 19th Dina was located about 280 nm northeast of
Rodrigues, and its forward motion had slowed considerably to 7 kts.
The MSW (10-min avg) was up to 80 kts, and a 19/0134 UTC TRMM (37 GHz)
image depicted a partial eyewall and a strong convective band over the
northern quadrant. A mid-level height center over the southern tip of
Madagascar was forecast to build eastward during the next 24 hours,
creating a more west-southwestward track for Dina. This verified as
the steadily-intensifying cyclone began to trek west-southwestward
later on the 19th. By 0600 UTC on 20 January the by-now intense
cyclone was centered 110 nm north-northeast of Rodrigues, moving west-
southwestward at 9 kts.
Dina at this time was at its peak intensity of 115 kts (130 kts
1-min avg MSW from JTWC) with an estimated minimum CP of 910 mb.
Satellite Dvorak intensity estimates were T6.5 and T7.0, and a
significant cooling of the cloud tops of the convective ring
surrounding the distinct 19-nm diameter eye had been noted. Gales
extended out about 80 nm in the northern semicircle and 130 nm to the
south, while hurricane force winds were estimated to extend outward
40 nm from the eye. After passing Rodrigues intense Tropical Cyclone
Dina began to pose an increasingly serious threat to Mauritius. At
20/1800 UTC the cyclone was located 300 nm east-northeast of Port
Louis, and by 0600 UTC on the 21st the gap had closed to 185 nm. The
wind field had expanded with gales extending outward over 100 nm in all
quadrants and up to 170 nm in the southwestern quadrant. Dina was
moving westward at 10 kts and had weakened slightly from its peak of
24 hours earlier. Dvorak CI numbers were T6.0 and T6.5, and MFR
reduced the MSW to 105 kts. (JTWC similarly lowered the 1-min avg MSW
to 120 kts.) A 21/0505 UTC SSM/I pass depicted an outer convective
ring developing around an existing inner eyewall, hence, it was thought
that a concentric eyewall event might be about to occur.
This didn't happen, however. Another SSM/I pass at 21/1738 UTC
no longer indicated concentric eyewalls with a single 26-nm eye noted
in the latest infrared imagery. At 1800 UTC Dina was centered only
about 75 nm northeast of Port Louis, still moving westward at 11 kts
with the MSW estimated at 100 kts (10-min avg). Between 1800 UTC and
22/0000 UTC the cyclone passed within 35 nm of the northern tip of
Mauritius, and by 0000 UTC was centered about 50 nm or less north-
northwest of the island. At 0600 UTC Dina's center was located about
60 nm northwest of Port Louis, or about 125 nm northeast of Reunion
Island. Winds were still 100 kts, and the eye diameter had expanded
to 42 nm. The storm was north-northeast of Reunion at 1200 UTC, and
by 1800 UTC had passed 36 nm due north of the island and was located
45 nm northwest of Reunion. Dina's track had turned back to more of
a west-southwesterly one (at 8 kts), and the eye appeared slightly
elongated.
At 0000 UTC on 23 January Dina was still sporting 100-kt winds (10-
min avg) about 80 nm west-northwest of Reunion Island, but by 0600 UTC
the storm was beginning to weaken some and MFR reduced the intensity
to 90 kts. (JTWC was still reporting a 1-min avg MSW of 115 kts, but
lowered it to 100 kts on their next warning at 1800 UTC.) Dina's
center was located about 100 nm west of Reunion at 0600 UTC, and by
1800 UTC the cyclone was moving southward at 9 kts from a position
roughly 175 nm southwest of the island. The MSW had been reduced to
80 kts, and by 24/0600 UTC Dina was showing signs of the first stages
of extratropical transition. The system was moving southward at
14 kts, and at 1200 UTC MFR downgraded Dina to a 60-kt tropical storm
about 350 nm southwest of Reunion Island.
JTWC issued their final warning on Dina at 24/1800 UTC, estimating
the MSW (1-min avg) at 55 kts. The storm was forecast to accelerate
to the southeast as it interacted with a mid-latitude baroclinic
system. MFR continued to issue tropical warnings on Dina for another
18 hours, finally declaring the storm extratropical at 25/1800 UTC
when located about 570 nm south of Reunion Island. The extratropical
storm continued to move quickly to the southeast with the last bulletin
from MFR being issued at 26/1200 UTC.
C. Comparisons Between JTWC and Other Centers
---------------------------------------------
Intensity estimates from La Reunion and JTWC, after conversion to
a common time averaging period, agreed remarkably well, usually being
within 5-10 kts of each other. The respective peak MSW estimates:
115 kts (10-min avg) from MFR and 130 kts (1-min avg) from JTWC,
were in perfect agreement.
D. Meteorological Observations
------------------------------
The first island to be affected by Dina was Rodrigues. The cyclone
passed around 65 nm north of the island on 20 January. Peak gusts of
66 kts were recorded at Plaine Corail, while Pointe Canon reported
gusts to 58 kts with a minimum SLP of 993.6 mb.
Many locations on Mauritius experienced peak gusts well in excess
of hurricane force. Following are stations which experienced gusts
in excess of 150 km/hr (82 kts) and the time (if known):
Station Gust (kts) Date/Time (UTC)
--------------------------------------------------
Le Morne 124
Fort William 114 21/2335
Souillac 110
Grand Gaube 99
Riviere Noire 95
Medine 92 22/0250
Q. Bornes 92
T. A. Cerfs 90
Beau. Songe 90
N. Decouverte 90
Balaclava 86
Vacoas 83 22/0120
The lowest pressure recorded on Mauritius available to the author was
935.9 mb from Vacoas at 21/2320 UTC.
The following table lists the stations on Mauritius which recorded
rainfall amounts exceeding 400 mm for a storm total:
Region Station Amount (mm)
---------------------------------------------
West Pierrefonds 745.2
Tamarin Est. 570.0
La Chaumiere 550.0
Medine 480.7
South Bois Cheri 424.0
East Sans Souci 490.0
Bel Etang 468.0
Centre Belle Rive (MSIRI) 591.3
Reduit 525.4
Arnaud 500+ (rain guage overflowed)
Petrin 500+ "
Plaine Champagne 500+ "
Quatre Bornes 402.2
The observations from Mauritius were sent to the author by Patrick
Hoareau. (A special thanks to Patrick for sending them.) Patrick
also passed along several wind gust and rainfall observations from
Reunion Island. These are tabulated below: first some peak gusts
from locations along the coast, then peak gusts from more elevated
sites, and finally some new record 24-hour rainfall amounts.
Location Peak Gust (kts) Date/Time (UTC)
-----------------------------------------------------------
Gillot Airport 102 22/1145
Port Mathurin 102 22/1300
Pierrefonds Airport 98 22/1300
Le Port 98 22/1530
Location Elevation (m) Peak Gusts (kts) Date/Time (UTC)
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Piton Maido 2200 151
La Plaine des Cafres 1500 120 22/1830
Bellecombe 2200 114 22/1330
Petite France 1200 104 22/2030
Location 24-hr Amount (mm) Prev. Record (mm) Set In
---------------------------------------------------------------
Colimacons/Mascarin 593 356 1993
St. Denis 395 338 1987
St. Leu 388 310 1978
La Possession 371 350 1962
Although not a record, the Bellecombe resting place recorded a 24-hour
total of 953 mm. The record 24-hour total for this station was set in
January, 1989, in association with Tropical Cyclone Firinga. Further
information from Philippe Caroff indicates that the Bellecombe resting
place (volcano lodge) recorded a 48-hour total of 1360 mm while
St. Denis on the coast recorded a 2-day total of 490 mm.
E. Damage and Casualties
------------------------
Rodrigues Island did not sustain any substantial damage or
casualties as Dina passed by. There was some disruption to water
supply services, electricity and roads. Damage was much more
substantial on Mauritius, where there were five fatalities reported
with at least 50 persons injured. Many trees were downed and there
was considerable disruption to utilities. Most schools sustained
serious damage and all were temporarily closed for several days.
The important sugarcane crop was also severely damaged, with the loss
projected to be around 15-20%, equivalent to about $47 million (US).
On Reunion Island there was widespread damage to buildings with
many roofs destroyed, and there was the usual disruption to electricity
and water supply networks--at one point half of the island's homes
were without electrical power. Roads were littered with fallen trees,
downed power lines and mudslides, and crops were heavily damaged.
Two injuries were reported, but no fatalities were known to have
occurred.
Karl Hoarau has sent me some preliminary monetary damage estimates
from Reunion Island. (A special thanks to Karl for supplying the
information.)
Agriculture: 76.0 million euros
Roads: 10.0 million euros
Electricity: 5.5 million euros
Craft (cottage) industry: 12.6 million euros
Houses, industry, buildings: 75.0 million euros
-------------------------------------------------
Total 179.1 million euros
Karl indicates that this is not a complete total of losses, and that
the overall total damage due to Dina is probably about 200 million
euros (equivalent to $185-190 million US).
More information on the effects of Tropical Cyclone Dina can be
found on the following website: http://www.reliefweb.int> .
F. Additional Comments
----------------------
One casualty of Tropical Cyclone Dina on Reunion Island that was
not human was Meteo France's Doppler radar. The radar, which sat on
an exposed location on top of a cliff at an elevation of 700 metres,
was blown away by the cyclone's fierce winds. In some information
received several months ago, Philippe Caroff of the La Reunion TCWC
stated that the radome was supposed to have withstood winds to
300 km/hr (163 kts). He relates that initially he did not believe
winds could have reached that threshold, but after the AWS at Piton
Maido (about 15 km south of the radar) recorded the gust to 151 kts,
it seemed more plausible that gusts could have reached or exceeded
163 kts. The 151-kt gust was the last observation from the AWS, and
at the time of Philippe's letter, no one had yet been able to obtain
access to the station due to impassable roads. He noted that there
existed the distinct possibility that the AWS was destroyed or blown
away, and that there was legitimate reason to doubt that the peak
reported gust was the highest one experienced there.
Philippe's e-mail also pointed out a very interesting fact about
the track of Tropical Cyclone Dina as it approached Reunion Island.
For about 10 hours on the morning of 22 January, as the storm neared
the island, it had moved on a fairly straight heading of about 240
degrees. When Dina's center reached a point 36 nm due north of the
island, the storm made an abrupt jog 30 degrees to the right, or due
west. After four hours, Dina veered southwestward and wound up almost
at the exact spot where it would have been had it not undergone the
deviation. Philippe advances the hypothesis that the "detour" possibly
resulted from orographical influences caused by the island's mount-
ainous terrain. In any case, the "detour" was a very lucky break for
Reunion. As it was, the eyewall itself remained about 15 nm offshore.
Had the jog in the track not have occurred, Dina's center would have
passed only about 27 nm from the island, bringing the intense eyewall
winds very near or over portions of the island.
TROPICAL CYCLONE EDDY
(MFR 07 / TC-11S)
22 - 28 January
-----------------------------------------
A. Storm Origins
----------------
On 18 January an area of convection developed about 500 nm
west-northwest of Cocos Island and persisted for over twelve hours.
The convection was cycling in intensity in the presence of moderate
vertical shear. By 19 January the disturbance was located farther
west, about 600 nm west-northwest of Cocos Island. A 19/1150 UTC
QuikScat pass revealed an elongated LLCC associated with cycling
convection. A 200-mb analysis indicated that the disturbance was
equatorward of the subtropical ridge within a region of moderate shear.
On 20 January the system remained quasi-stationary with no significant
changes in organization. By 21 January the disturbance had drifted
back eastward to a point approximately 500 nm west-northwest of Cocos
Island, again with little change in organization. On 22 January at
1200 UTC, MFR issued a tropical disturbance bulletin for the system.
Convection was still weak and cycling, and a QuikScat pass revealed
that the LLCC was very weak.
At 23/0300 UTC, JTWC upgraded the development potential to fair.
The disturbance was then located about 400 nm west of Cocos Island.
Animated satellite imagery showed continued cycling of the convection
with increasing diffluence aloft and decreasing vertical shear. A
TCFA was issued at 1400 UTC with the system located approximately
450 nm west of Cocos Island. The disturbance was exhibiting increasing
organization, and a 200-mb analysis indicated that the environment was
becoming more favorable for intensification. MFR upgraded the system
to a 30-kt tropical depression at 1800 UTC, and JTWC initiated warnings
on TC-11S at 24/0600 UTC, located roughly 525 nm west of Cocos Island.
The depression was moving slowly southwestward, and animated visible
imagery indicated deep convection developing over the vortex center
with a weak banding feature wrapping in from the southeast quadrant.
At 24/1200 UTC Mauritius upgraded the depression to Tropical Storm
Eddy. Eddy's center was located approximately 550 nm west of Cocos
Island with peak winds estimated at 35 kts.
B. Track and Intensity History
------------------------------
At 1800 UTC on 24 January JTWC was still estimating the 1-min avg
MSW at 30 kts, based on CI estimates of 30 and 35 kts. Convection was
still cycling over the vortex center, although Eddy's organization had
improved during the previous 12 hours. MFR upped the intensity to
40 kts at 25/0000 UTC, and at 0600 UTC JTWC increased their 1-min avg
MSW estimate to 45 kts. Convection was increasing as Eddy tracked
southward at 9 kts, steered by a mid-level ridge extending westward
from the northwest Australian coast. At 25/1800 UTC the storm was
located approximately 545 nm west-southwest of Cocos Island. Eddy
had intensified--a 25/1235 UTC TRMM pass had revealed a convective
band wrapping completely around the LLCC. Both MFR and JTWC upped
their respective MSW estimates to 55 kts.
MFR upgraded Eddy to a 70-kt cyclone (i.e., hurricane) at 0600 UTC
on the 26th with the storm centered about 575 nm southwest of Cocos
Island. A banding eye was visible, and the system was moving south-
southeastward at 11 kts. Gales extended outward from the center 115 nm
in the southern semicircle and 60 nm to the north, while the radius of
storm-force winds was estimated at 35 nm. A 26/1240 UTC SSM/I pass
indicated that convection was becoming restricted in the southern
semicircle, and at 1800 UTC MFR reduced the intensity to 65 kts, based
on CI estimates of 65 and 77 kts (1-min avg).
The weakening trend continued and at 27/0000 UTC Eddy was downgraded
to tropical storm status. (JTWC lowered their 1-min avg MSW estimate
to 60 kts at 0600 UTC.) At 0600 UTC the storm was located about
735 nm southwest of Cocos Island, moving south-southwestward at 8 kts.
Eddy was forecast to move increasingly to the west as a mid-level ridge
built to the south of the system. Satellite imagery still depicted a
persistent banding feature, but Eddy was forecast to continue weakening
as it encountered increasing vertical shear and cooler SSTs.
The track and intensity forecasts verified--by 1800 UTC Eddy was
located 850 nm southwest of Cocos Island, moving westward at 14 kts
with JTWC reporting only 40-kt winds (1-min avg). MFR was somewhat
higher at 50 kts, but reduced the intensity on the next warning. Eddy
was a sheared system with the remaining deep convection located about
120 nm east of the LLCC. By 0600 UTC on 28 January both MFR and JTWC
had downgraded Eddy to 30 kts. The depression was then located about
950 nm southwest of Cocos Island, or roughly 1150 nm southeast of Diego
Garcia, moving west-southwestward at 8 kts. The system was severely
sheared with the convection dissipating, and the 0600 UTC warning was
the final one from JTWC. Six hours later MFR also issued their last
bulletin on the dissipating depression.
C. Comparisons Between JTWC and Other Centers
---------------------------------------------
Intensity estimates from JTWC and MFR compared reasonably well for
Tropical Cyclone Eddy, after conversion to the same time averaging
period. In general, though, JTWC's MSW estimates were lower than those
from La Reunion. MFR's peak 10-min avg MSW of 70 kts is equivalent
to a 1-min avg MSW of about 80 kts, whereas JTWC's intensity estimates
never rose above 65 kts. However, JTWC's warning at 26/1800 UTC did
note that CI estimates were 65 and 77 kts, and it's possible that if
that agency had issued a warning at 1200 UTC when Eddy was likely at
its peak intensity, the MSW might have been reported as 70 or 75 kts.
D. Damage and Casualties
------------------------
Tropical Cyclone Eddy remained far from any land areas during its
entire existence, and no marine damage or casualties are known to have
resulted from the storm.
***********************************************************************
NORTHWEST AUSTRALIA/SOUTHEAST INDIAN OCEAN (AUW) - From 90E to 135E
Activity for January: No tropical cyclones
Northwest Australia/Southeast Indian Ocean
Tropical Activity for January
------------------------------------------
No tropical cyclones or even significant tropical LOWs were observed
during January in waters off northwestern Australia or in the Southeast
Indian Ocean. However, Tropical Cyclone Eddy formed near 90E and moved
southward just west of that meridian, so likely gale-force winds and
heavy seas affected the western extremity of the region for a few days
as the storm moved into higher latitudes.
***********************************************************************
NORTHEAST AUSTRALIA/CORAL SEA (AUE) - From 135E to 160E
Activity for January: 1 tropical cyclone of storm intensity
Sources of Information
----------------------
The primary sources of tracking and intensity information for
Northeast Australia/Coral Sea tropical cyclones are the warnings
and advices issued by the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centres at
Brisbane, Queensland, and Darwin, Northern Territory, and on very
infrequent occasions, by the centre at Port Moresby, Papua New
Guinea. References to sustained winds imply a 10-minute averaging
period unless otherwise stated.
In the companion tropical cyclone tracks file, I occasionally
annotate positions from warnings issued by the Joint Typhoon Warning
Center (JTWC) of the U. S. Air Force and Navy, located at Pearl
Harbor, Hawaii, when they differ from the Australian centres' coor-
dinates by usually 40-50 nm or more. The JTWC warnings are also the
source of the 1-minute average maximum sustained wind values included
in the tracks file. Additionally, information describing details of
satellite imagery and atmospheric circulation features included in
the narratives is often gleaned from the JTWC warnings.
Northeast Australia/Coral Sea
Tropical Activity for January
-----------------------------
The first tropical cyclone of the 2001-2002 season in northeastern
Australian waters began taking shape late in December, 2001, in the
northern Gulf of Carpentaria. The tropical LOW drifted slowly south-
ward, strengthening into Tropical Cyclone Bernie on the 3rd and making
landfall the next day in western Queensland near the Northern Territory
border. While no other tropical cyclones occurred in the region
during the month, two systems classified as tropical depressions by
Fiji were each briefly located west of 160E. Tropical Depression 05F
moved westward across 160E late in its life as it was weakening, and
short-lived Tropical Depression 06F formed just west of 160E. Both
of these depressions produced some peripheral gales while in Fiji's
AOR, but neither appear to have been associated with any gale-force
winds while in Brisbane's region of warning responsibility.
TROPICAL CYCLONE BERNIE
(TC-09P)
30 December - 6 January
-------------------------------------------
A. Storm Origins
----------------
A Tropical Weather Outlook issued by Darwin at 0445 UTC on
31 December noted that a developing tropical LOW was situated in
the northern Gulf of Carpentaria about 80 nm northeast of Nhulunbuy
and was stationary. The potential for tropical cyclone development
was forecast to become increasingly better after a couple of days.
The first advice was issued at 31/2230 UTC with the system centered
approximately 70 nm east-southeast of Nhulunbuy, or 120 nm northeast
of Alyangula, moving slowly southward. JTWC first mentioned the LOW
in a STWO issued at 1030 UTC on 1 January. Animated visible and
infrared imagery depicted unorganized convection consolidating around
the LLCC. At 01/1930 UTC the LOW was relocated farther east to a
point about 140 nm east of Alyangula, or 165 nm north of Mornington
Island. Darwin issued the first gale warning on the system at 2100
UTC with the expectation that the LOW would become a tropical cyclone
within the next 18-24 hours. The disturbance by this time was moving
very slowly south-southeastward.
With convection continuing to organize around the center, JTWC
upgraded the development potential to good and issued a TCFA at 0800
UTC on 2 January. The Brisbane TCWC assumed responsibility for
issuing advices on the developing system at 1400 UTC since the center
was within their AOR (east of 138E in the southern Gulf). Darwin,
however, continued to issue High Seas Warnings. At 1400 UTC the LOW
was centered approximately 125 nm north of Mornington Island, moving
south-southeastward at 8 kts with 30-kt maximum winds. Convection
slowly continued to consolidate around the LLCC and Brisbane named the
system Tropical Cyclone Bernie at 03/0400 UTC. Bernie at this time
had become stationary about 145 nm east-northeast of Port McArthur, or
125 nm north-northwest of Mornington Island. The 10-min avg MSW was
estimated at 35 kts. (JTWC issued their first warning on TC-09P at
0600 UTC, but estimated the 1-min avg MSW at 30 kts.)
B. Track and Intensity History
------------------------------
Bernie developed in an environment of weak to moderate vertical
shear with the convection being sheared to the southwest of the
LLCC. A mid-level subtropical ridge just east of the cyclone, in
combination with a 700-mb ridge centered to the southwest, was fore-
cast to steer Bernie on a southwestward track. Bernie continued to
intensify, and at 1800 UTC reached its peak intensity of 50 kts when
centered about 80 nm north-northwest of Mornington Island. (JTWC's
1-min avg MSW was 45 kts, based on CI estimates of 45 and 55 kts.)
A buoy (WMO 52627) reported winds of 43 kts near the center at 1400
UTC. (Presumably this is a 10-min mean wind.)
By 04/0600 UTC Bernie was centered only 25 nm northwest of Morning-
ton Island, moving slowly southward at 7 kts. Darwin still reported
the intensity at 50 kts, but JTWC lowered their 1-min avg MSW estimate
to 40 kts, based on CI estimates of 35 and 45 kts and a buoy report
(WMO 52627) of 32 kts near the center at 0500 UTC. The center of
Tropical Cyclone Bernie made landfall near 1300 UTC about 120 nm east-
southeast of Port McArthur, or 30 nm west-southwest of Mornington
Island. Maximum sustained winds around the time of landfall were
estimated at 35-40 kts. The weakening cyclone continued to track
south-southwestward farther inland as it weakened. A visible satellite
image on 6 January still showed a fairly well-organized cloud system
well south of the Gulf of Carpentaria coastline.
C. Comparisons Between JTWC and Other Centers
---------------------------------------------
Intensity estimates in JTWC's warnings for Tropical Cyclone Bernie
compared reasonably well with those from Darwin and Brisbane, but
JTWC's values tended to run below those from the Australian warning
centers. Brisbane estimated the peak 10-min avg MSW for Bernie at
50 kts, which would be about 60 kts on the 1-min avg scale. JTWC's
peak MSW for Bernie, however, was 45 kts, equivalent to a 10-min avg
wind of about 40 kts. Center position coordinates were in good
agreement with those from the Australian TCWCs.
D. Meteorological Observations
------------------------------
Buoy (WMO 52627), located at 15.0S, 139.0E, experienced gale-force
winds for a period of over 24 hours as Bernie passed by. At 03/1451
UTC the buoy was reporting 10-min mean winds of 43 kts and a SLP of
985.5 mb. Winds dropped to 31 kts at 03/2130 UTC, but were back up
to 42 kts at 03/2331 UTC and remained at or above 34 kts through at
least 04/1802 UTC. The lowest pressure reported by the buoy during
this period was 985.1 mb at 03/1813 UTC. At 03/0837 UTC QuikScat
indicated a band of southeast to southwest winds of 40 to 55 kts on
the western side of the storm about 40 to 75 nm from the center.
The strongest winds reported by an AWS were at the Mornington Island
site which is badly affected by a recently-built building and large
trees. Strongest gusts were in the 40 to 44 kt range sporadically
from 03/1608 through 04/0400 UTC. Mornington Island also recorded
335 mm of rainfall in the 24 hours ending at 2300 UTC on 3 January.
The Weipa tide gauge recorded a 0.4 metre storm surge at high tide
at 0833 UTC on the 3rd, while the Karumba tide gauge recorded a 0.3
metre storm surge at high tide at 1347 UTC on the 5th--well after
landfall! (A special thanks to Jeff Callaghan for sending me the
above meteorological observations.)
E. Damage and Casualties
------------------------
According to the information sent to me by Jeff Callaghan, damage
resulting from Tropical Cyclone Bernie was minor. There was some
beachfront erosion and sand loss around Karumba, and the boat ramp
sustained some damage as a result of wave action. All roads around
Burketown and Doomadgee were closed due to flooding. Some environ-
mental damage occurred but no structural damage was reported. Like-
wise, Mornington Island and Sweers Islands experienced some environ-
mental damage, but no structural damage was reported.
***********************************************************************
SOUTH PACIFIC (SPA) - South Pacific Ocean East of Longitude 160E
Activity for January: 3 tropical depressions
Sources of Information
----------------------
The primary sources of tracking and intensity information for
South Pacific tropical cyclones are the warnings and advisories
issued by the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centres at Nadi, Fiji (for
waters north of latitude 25S), and Wellington, New Zealand (for
waters south of latitude 25S). References to sustained winds imply
a 10-minute averaging period unless otherwise stated.
In the companion tropical cyclone tracks file, I occasionally
annotate positions from warnings issued by the Joint Typhoon Warning
Center (JTWC) of the U. S. Air Force and Navy, located at Pearl
Harbor, Hawaii, when they differ from the Southern Hemisphere
centres' coordinates by usually 40-50 nm or more. The JTWC warnings
are also the source of the 1-minute average maximum sustained wind
values included in the tracks file. Additionally, information
describing details of satellite imagery and atmospheric circulation
features included in the narratives is often gleaned from the JTWC
warnings.
South Pacific Tropical Activity for January
-------------------------------------------
No named tropical cyclones developed in the South Pacific east of
longitude 160E during January, although the destructive Tropical
Cyclone Waka, which had formed in late December, 2001, was still active
into the early days of the new year. (See the December, 2001, summary
for the full report on Waka.) There were three systems, however,
forming in January which the Nadi TCWC classified as tropical depres-
sions. The first of these, TD-05F, formed on 31 December deep in the
tropics roughly 325 nm east-northeast of Guadalcanal in the Solomon
Islands. The system drifted slowly south-southeastward, reaching a
point about 400 nm north of Port Vila in Vanuatu by 0000 UTC on
3 January, thence turning to the west-southwest and entering Brisbane's
AOR around 06/0000 UTC. The LOW was centered approximately 275 nm
southwest of Guadalcanal at 0200 UTC on the 7th, and a STWO from
Brisbane indicated that it had moderate potential to develop into a
tropical cyclone. However, a STWO issued by JTWC later in the day
indicated that the system had weakened considerably. JTWC had earlier
issued a TCFA for the system on 1 January, but cancelled it the next
day. TD-05F was in essence a large, diffuse monsoon depression. Fiji
issued gale warnings for a few days in association with the system for
monsoonal gales to the north and east of the depression that were
detached from the center.
Tropical Depression 06F was a short-lived system which formed on
15 January about 450 nm west-northwest of Noumea, New Caledonia. The
depression was embedded in a monsoon trough which combined with a front
to the southeast. TD-06F moved generally eastward through the 16th,
reaching a point about 175 nm south-southeast of Noumea by 2100 UTC.
Fiji issued gale warnings for a band of peripheral gales to the south
of the center.
The final depression of January, TD-07F, was a very large, quite
impressive-looking monsoon depression which was never able to
consolidate its convection and develop as a tropical cyclone. The
broad center was located roughly 175 nm northwest of Fiji at 2100 UTC
on 20 January. Specifying an exact center for such a large, diffuse
system was difficult, and the available coordinates reflect several
relocations. Generally, however, the depression drifted from its
point of origin northwest of Fiji on the 20th to a position approxi-
mately 100 nm west-southwest of Noumea by 2100 UTC on 27 January.
Separate gale warnings were issued by Nadi from the 21st through the
24th, and by Brisbane on the 24th and 25th, for a zone of gales well
south of the center between the large depression and a strong anti-
cyclone west of New Zealand in the Tasman Sea.
***********************************************************************
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 first included in the July, 1998
summary. I don't normally include the Glossary in most months in
order to help keep them from being too long. If anyone would like to
receive a copy of the Glossary, please e-mail me and I'll be happy
to send 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
January as an example: jan02.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: jan02.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://australiasevereweather.com/cyclones/>
http://www.typhoon2000.ph> OR http://66.40.4.61>
http://www.hurricanealley.net/>
http://www.qisfl.net/home/hurricanemike>
http://www.met.fsu.edu/gsc/Docs/Grads/henning/cyclones/>
NOTE: The URL for Michael V. Padua's Typhoon 2000 website has
changed.
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
JTWC now has available on its website the complete Annual Tropical
Cyclone Report (ATCR) for 2001 (2000-2001 season for the Southern
Hemisphere). 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 2001 Atlantic and Eastern North Pacific
tropical cyclones; also, preliminary storm reports for all the 2001
Atlantic and Eastern North Pacific cyclones are now available, as
well as track charts and reports on storms from earlier years.
The URL is: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov>
A special thanks to Michael Bath of Wollongbar, New South Wales,
Australia, for assisting me with proofreading the summaries.
Prepared by: Gary Padgett
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 334-222-5327
***********************************************************************
***********************************************************************
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Document: summ0201.htm
Updated: 27th December 2006 |
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