2007 North Indian Ocean cyclone season

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IMD Tropical Cyclone
Strength Classification [1]
Category Wind speed (3-min)
Knots (km/h)
Depression ≤27
(≤51)
Deep Depression 28–33
(52–61)
Cyclonic Storm 34–47
(62–87)
Severe Cyclonic
Storm		 48–63
(88–117)
Very Severe
Cyclonic Storm		 64–119
(118–221)
Super Cyclonic Storm ≥120
(≥222)

The 2007 North Indian Ocean cyclone season is an ongoing event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. The North Indian Ocean cyclone season has no official bounds, but cyclones tend to form between April and December, with peaks in May and November. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northern Indian Ocean.

The scope of this article is limited to the Indian Ocean in the Northern Hemisphere, east of the Horn of Africa and west of the Malay Peninsula. There are two main seas in the North Indian Ocean - the Arabian Sea to the west of the Indian subcontinent, abbreviated ARB by the India Meteorological Department (IMD); and the Bay of Bengal to the east, abbreviated BOB by the IMD.

The official Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre in this basin is the India Meteorological Department (IMD), while the Joint Typhoon Warning Center releases unofficial advisories. The tropical cyclone scale for this basin is detailed on the right. On average, 4 to 6 storms form in this basin every season.[2]

Contents

[edit] Storms

[edit] Depression BOB 01

An area of disturbed weather first formed east of the Malay Peninsula on April 26. It slowly consolidated, and the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) designated the active low pressure cell as a tropical depression on May 1 in the Gulf of Thailand.[3] Moving westwards, it made landfall in the coastal areas of Chumphon, and then moved into the Andaman Sea.[4] The system strengthened slightly, and late on May 3, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) designated it as a depression. It then began to move northwards, and in the morning of May 5, it made a second landfall on the coast of Rakhine State in Myanmar. The system weakened into an area of low pressure shortly after, and the IMD issued its last bulletin.

The TMD issued heavy rain and flash flood warnings for western provinces during the system's passage over the Isthmus of Kra. In Ratchaburi Province, disaster response teams prepared for the evacuation of settlements in mountaineous terrain on May 3.[5] The next day, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province was declared a disaster zone after low-lying areas were flooded with waters up to one metre deep. In the capital municipality, a prison was inundated, necessitating the evacuation of prisoners to Ratchaburi. In addition, a portion of rail was flooded, but train services were not disrupted. In Surat Thani Province, mudslides halted traffic in the municipal area. Multiple landslide warnings were also issued in other provinces. Northwestern provinces also braced for heavy rains following the system's second landfall.[6]

[edit] Cyclonic Storm Akash

Cyclonic Storm Akash
Tropical Cyclone 01B		 1
Tropical_Storm_01B_%282007%29.jpg
Duration May 13—May 15, 2007
Intensity 45 kt (3-min)[7], 988 hPa[7]
Main article: Cyclone Akash

On May 13, the India Meteorological Department declared a depression over the east central Bay of Bengal. It formed on May 10, and continued gradual intensification. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center issued a TCFA on May 13 shortly before the IMD upgraded it to a depression. Later that day, the JTWC upgraded it to a tropical cyclone, designating it 01B. On May 14, the IMD upgraded it to a deep depression, and six hours later it was designated the first cyclonic storm of the season, Akash. Akash continued to strengthen and the JTWC analysed it as having reached hurricane-force winds on May 14. It made landfall on the coast near the Bangladesh–Myanmar border early on May 15, and weakened quickly inland.

Akash killed at least one fisherman, and left about 100 others missing. Crops were destroyed and power was cut as Akash neared the coast, and almost 80,000 people had to be evacuated to cyclone shelters.[8] The seaport at Chittagong had to be closed, and all flights into and out of the city were cancelled.[9]

The heavy rains caused by outer bands of the cyclone before it made landfall limited play in Chittagong in the international cricket match between India and Bangladesh.[10]

[edit] Super Cyclonic Storm Gonu

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Super Cyclonic Storm Gonu
Tropical Cyclone 02A		 5
Gonu 04 jun 2007 0900Z.jpg Gonu 2007 track.png
Duration June 1—June 7, 2007
Intensity 130 kt (3-min), 920 hPa
Main article: Cyclone Gonu

An area of disturbed weather developed in the eastern Arabian Sea southwest of Mumbai, India on May 30.[11] The system slowly increased in organisation as it moved slowly northwestward, and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert on June 1.[12] The India Meteorological Department designated the system a depression later that day.[13] As the system consolidated and moved west early on June 2, the IMD upgraded it to a deep depression,[14] and the JTWC issued its first advisory on Tropical Cyclone 02A.[15] Several hours later, the IMD upgraded it to a cyclonic storm, naming it Gonu.[16]

Gonu then rapidly intensified, reaching severe cyclonic storm status at 0000 UTC on June 3.[17] Despite continually favourable conditions, entrainment of dry air from the northwestern Arabian Sea initially inhibited development.[18] However, Gonu overcame this, becoming a very severe cyclonic storm late on June 3.[19] Early on June 4, it developed a visible eye.[20] With low vertical wind shear, excellent outflow and high ocean heat content,[21] Gonu further underwent rapid intensification.[22] That afternoon, the JTWC upgraded it to a Category 5-equivalent cyclone.[23] Gonu was upgraded to a Super Cyclonic Storm shortly after,[24] as it featured a 22 nm (40 km, 25 mi) -wide round eye.[25]

Late on June 4, the IMD downgraded Gonu back to a very severe cyclonic storm,[26] as it weakened slightly due to decreasing ocean heat content and dry air entrainment, with a cloud-filled eye.[27] As Gonu approached northeastern Oman, it rapidly weakened in a hostile environment with increasing vertical wind shear and interaction with land.[28]

The cyclone delayed the arrival of the Indian Ocean south-west monsoon in the Western Ghats in India.[29]

[edit] Deep Depression BOB 03

It has been suggested that this section be split into a new article entitled Tropical Cyclone 03B (2007). (Discuss)
Deep Depression BOB 03/2007
Tropical Cyclone 03B[30]		 TS
Cyclone 03B 26 jun 2007 0650Z.jpg
Duration June 21—June 26, 2007
Intensity 50 kt (1-min), unknown pressure
03B on June 25
03B on June 25

A low pressure area associated with the monsoon trough was first detected by the Naval Research Laboratory in the Bay of Bengal on June 17. Over the next few days, it developed deep flaring convection near an exposed low-level circulation centre (LLCC) as it drifted in open sea.[31] Despite moderate to high vertical wind shear, the disturbance produced surface pressure falls of up to 2.7 mbar (hPa) in Port Blair, in the Andaman Islands, on June 19.[32] Convection persisted around the increasingly well-defined LLCC, and the disturbance continued to consolidate under favourable diffluence.[33][34]

Early on June 21, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) declared the area a depression, 430 km (270 mi) east-southeast of Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, India.[35] Several hours later, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert (TCFA), with winds near 30 kt (55 km/h, 35 mph).[36] The depression moved quickly west-northwest towards the northern Andhra Pradesh coast.[35] A subtropical ridge to the north weakened the wind shear which had been paralysing the system, allowing for further intensification.[36] Later that day, the IMD upgraded the system to a deep depression.[37] As convection organised with increasing ocean heat content, the JTWC issued its first warning on Tropical Cyclone 03B.[38]

The deep depression made landfall near Kakinda early on June 22 local time.[39] The JTWC issued its final advisory later, as the system began to weaken due to land interaction and wind shear.[40] The next day, the IMD downgraded it to a depression while it crossed the Deccan Plateau.[41] The final warning was issued on June 24, despite the storm having moved into the Arabian Sea. The storm killed at least 140 people in India,[42] and another 213 people died in Karachi, Pakistan from rains and winds that might have been associated with an outer band of the cyclone.[43] The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) had warned of heavy rains and wind from the system as early as Friday June 22.[44]

The JTWC noted in its Significant Tropical Weather Outlook for the North Indian Ocean on June 24 that strong monsoonal low-level flow contributed to increased cyclonic vorticity, with low vertical wind shear and warm sea surface temperatures. It warned that these factors could lead to a rapid regeneration of the cyclone.[45] Early on June 25, the JTWC issued the second TCFA for this system as its LLCC crossed the coast into the Arabian Sea.[46] Shortly after, both the IMD[47] and the JTWC[48] resumed advisories on the depression.

As it moved northwest just off the Pakistani coast, winds of about 26 kt (48 km/h, 30 mph) and a surface pressure of 990 mbar (hPa) were observed in Karachi near midday on June 25.[49] According to the PMD, the centre of the system reached within 90 km (55 mi) of Karachi.[44] With favourable conditions and deep convection, the system intensified into a deep depression that day.[50] After further organization, it made its second landfall at about 0300 UTC June 26 along the Makran coast, near Ormara and Pasni, Balochistan province, in southwestern Pakistan.[44][51][52] Upon reaching land, the cyclone began to weaken slowly,[53] and the JTWC issued its last advisory late on June 26.[54]

The cyclone trapped 2 merchant ships: Al-Picaso and Lady Hamad, and 4 fishing boats: Al-Taif, Al-Noor, Sumbal Sultani and Al-Tariq, 100 nm (185 km, 115 mi) off Karachi. The Pakistan Navy rescued 56 sailors from the merchant ships and 36 fishermen from the fishing boats after they were detected by Breguet Atlantique aircraft.[55] The heavy downpour also flooded the Kech Korandi riverine, inundating the city of Turbat and causing more than 10,000 people to evacuate their houses.[56] At least 380 people died in Balochistan,[57] with another 250 dead in Sindh and 100 in the North-West Frontier Province,[58] and further rains associated with the remnants of the cyclone hampered rescue efforts. Over 250,000 people were left homeless in Pakistan.[59] Over 80 people were killed in floods associated with the remnants in Afghanistan. At least 2 million people were affected by the cyclone or indirectly by power cuts and water shortages in Balochistan.[60]

The PMD referred to the deep depression as Tropical Cyclone Yemyin, the next name on the list at the time.[44] However, the IMD, the official Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre for the North Indian Ocean, did not upgrade or name the system; thus the system officially has no name.

[edit] Deep Depression BOB 04

On June 28, an area of disturbed weather in the Bay of Bengal that had persisted as a well-marked low pressure area for two days became more organised.[61] The India Meteorological Department (IMD) noted the formation of a depression around 0000 UTC (5:30 a.m. IST) southeast of Puri, Orissa, India. The IMD also stated that the system intensified into a deep depression three hours later whilst remaining "practically stationary".[62] The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert shortly after, noting that observations from the eastern coast of India had recorded falls in pressure corresponding with the system's development. Furthermore, an upper-level anticyclone had formed over the disturbance, which would maintain the favourable wind shear conditions.[63] The JTWC initiated advisories later that day,[64] as the depression moved northwest towards the Orissa coast.[65] The depression made landfall near Puri early on June 29.[66] The JTWC then issued its last advisory later that day, as the system moved inland.[67] Early on June 30, with the system centred over Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, the IMD downgraded the system to a depression,[68] and discontinued advisories 6 hours later.[69]

At 0600 UTC (11 a.m. PST) on June 28, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) issued its first advisory regarding the remnants of the system. The PMD stated that the remnants "had the potential" to cause widespread heavy rain with strong winds in Sindh, Balochistan, Azad Kashmir and North-West Frontier provinces. This could worsen conditions in areas already flooded by Deep Depression BOB 03 (known as Tropical Cyclone Yemyin in Pakistan).[70] In its fourth advisory on July 1, the PMD warned about the "high probability" of the system moving westward towards southern Sindh (instead of northwestward as previously projected), and regenerating over the Arabian Sea.[71] The remnants of Tropical Cyclone 04B were mentioned in a Significant Tropical Weather Advisory from the JTWC early on July 2. After crossing the Deccan Plateau, convection was southwest of the centre, in the Arabian Sea, while multiple associated low-level circulation centres had yet to re-emerge, and were located in west-central India, north-northeast of Mumbai. The area had favourable upper-level divergence, but high vertical wind shear.[72] Eventually, the circulation centre became fully exposed in unfavourable conditions, and the JTWC declared it "no longer suspect for development" later that day.[73]

While it was over western India adjoining the Arabian Sea, the deep convection associated with the remnants of the cyclone brought heavy rains to Maharashtra, causing disruptions in transport due to floods and high winds in Mumbai. Amravati district, northeast of Mumbai, was also severly affected by floods.[60] At least 43 people were killed in the state, and in Mumbai 243 mm (9.6 inches) of rain was recorded.[74] 14 died in Gujarat state, and evacuations were conducted. Up to 462 mm (18.1 inches) of rain was received in Bharuch district.[75]

[edit] Timeline of recent events

Main article: Timeline of the 2007 North Indian Ocean cyclone season

[edit] June

June 21
  • 0300 UTC - 95B.INVEST, east-southeast of Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, India, is designated Depression BOB 03/2007 by the IMD.
  • 1200 UTC - Depression BOB 03/2007 is upgraded to Deep Depression BOB 03/2007.
  • 1500 UTC - Deep Depression BOB 03/2007 is designated Tropical Cyclone 03B by the JTWC.
  • c. 2300 UTC - Deep Depression BOB 03/2007 makes landfall near Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, India.
June 22
  • 0900 UTC - The JTWC issues its final advisory on Tropical Cyclone 03B, dissipating in the Deccan Plateau in India.
June 23
  • 0300 UTC - Deep Depression BOB 03/2007 is downgraded to a depression.
June 24
  • 0300 UTC - The IMD issues its final bulletin on Depression BOB 03/2007.
June 25
  • 0300 UTC - The IMD resumes advisories on Depression BOB 03/2007.
  • 0900 UTC - The JTWC resumes advisories on Tropical Cyclone 03B, south of Karachi, Pakistan.
  • 1200 UTC - Depression BOB 03/2007 is upgraded to to Deep Depression BOB 03/2007.
  • 1300 UTC - The PMD upgrades the Deep Depression BOB 03/2007 to a severe cyclonic storm, naming it "Yemyin". However, the IMD does not follow suit and the system officially remains nameless.
June 26
  • c. 0300 UTC - Deep Depression BOB 03/2007 makes landfall near Ormara and Pasni, in Balochistan province, Pakistan.
  • 2100 UTC - The JTWC issues its final advisory on Tropical Cyclone 03B, dissipating in inland Balochistan, Pakistan.
June 28
  • 0000 UTC - 96B.INVEST, southeast of Puri, Orissa, India, is designated as Depression BOB 04/2007 by the IMD.
  • 0300 UTC - Depression BOB 04/2007 is upgraded to Deep Depression BOB 04/2007.
  • 1500 UTC - Deep Depression BOB 04/2007 is designated Tropical Cyclone 04B by the JTWC.
June 29
  • c. 0100 UTC - Deep Depression BOB 04/2007 makes landfall near Puri, Orissa, India.
  • 1500 UTC - The JTWC issues its final advisory on Tropical Cyclone 04B, dissipating in inland Orissa, India.
June 30
  • 0300 UTC - Deep Depression BOB 04/2007 is downgraded to a depression.
  • 0900 UTC - The IMD issues its final bulletin on Depression BOB 04/2007, dissipating in Madhya Pradesh, India.

[edit] Storm names

The next few unused names on the list of North Indian Ocean storm names are listed below, as well as names already used this season. The names are used sequentially and once only.

  • Akash
  • Gonu
  • Yemyin (unused)[30]
  • Sidr (unused)
  • Nargis (unused)

[edit] See also

Portal:Tropical cyclones
 Tropical cyclones Portal

[edit] References and notes

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  2. ^ IMD Cyclone Warning Services: Tropical Cyclones.
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  8. ^ http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/news/stories/s1923393.htm
  9. ^ http://nation.ittefaq.com/artman/publish/article_36083.shtml
  10. ^ http://nation.ittefaq.com/artman/publish/article_36079.shtml
  11. ^ http://www.nrlmry.navy.mil/atcf_web/doc_archives/bio022007.dat
  12. ^ http://www.webcitation.org/5PGnpYarz
  13. ^ http://www.webcitation.org/5PKZlyZuA
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  19. ^ http://www.webcitation.org/5PKb1SriX
  20. ^ http://www.webcitation.org/5PKrB65es
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  22. ^ http://www.webcitation.org/5PLSSC4QW
  23. ^ ftp://ftp.met.fsu.edu/pub/weather/tropical/GuamStuff/2007060415-WTIO.PGTW
  24. ^ http://www.webcitation.org/5PLm4Iqk8
  25. ^ http://www.webcitation.org/5PM3n7dBU
  26. ^ http://www.webcitation.org/5PMGmd0EF
  27. ^ http://www.webcitation.org/5PMOutn5z
  28. ^ http://www.webcitation.org/5PNXV1Qvn
  29. ^ http://www.cybernoon.com/DisplayArticle.asp?section=fromthepress&subsection=inbombay&xfile=June2007_inbombay_standard13145
  30. ^ a b The Pakistan Meteorological Department referred to Tropical Cyclone 03B as "Tropical Cyclone Yemyin". However, the official WMO body responsible for tropical cyclones in the Arabian Sea, the India Meteorological Department, did not name the storm, and thus the storm officially has no name and the name "Yemyin" remained unused after the storm.
  31. ^ http://www.webcitation.org/5PiHAO2KX
  32. ^ http://www.webcitation.org/5PjPQ6WL4
  33. ^ http://www.webcitation.org/5PjPQ6WL4
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  36. ^ a b http://www.webcitation.org/5Pl4nJpC7
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  38. ^ http://www.webcitation.org/5PlTDy9FR
  39. ^ http://www.webcitation.org/5PmEtgsyb
  40. ^ http://www.webcitation.org/5Pme3GnZU
  41. ^ http://www.webcitation.org/5Po29M4mA
  42. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6239808.stm
  43. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6233868.stm
  44. ^ a b c d http://www.webcitation.org/5PsfixNqs
  45. ^ http://www.webcitation.org/5PpyFcKC8
  46. ^ http://www.webcitation.org/5Pr0NM4Fb
  47. ^ http://www.webcitation.org/5PrCgkooe
  48. ^ http://www.webcitation.org/5PrR8Vrj6
  49. ^ http://www.webcitation.org/5PrbCzNT4
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  51. ^ http://www.webcitation.org/5PststKwZ
  52. ^ http://www.webcitation.org/5PstmCWco
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  54. ^ http://www.webcitation.org/5PuGtXmFM
  55. ^ http://www.webcitation.org/5PtxDsgHu
  56. ^ http://www.webcitation.org/5Pu0LcnLI
  57. ^ http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/Pakistan/Pakistan_cyclone_death_toll_hits_380/articleshow/2168117.cms
  58. ^ http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=c411704a-e156-4ce1-8b73-4228330f0683&&Headline=Pakistan+cyclone+death+toll+hits+380
  59. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6247884.stm
  60. ^ a b http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6258820.stm
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  62. ^ http://www.webcitation.org/5PvpqZNmH
  63. ^ http://www.webcitation.org/5Pvq5HH2c
  64. ^ http://www.webcitation.org/5PwEJq3I0
  65. ^ http://www.webcitation.org/5PwFN7qO6
  66. ^ http://www.webcitation.org/5PwtGu7Fb
  67. ^ http://www.webcitation.org/5PxcNduGp
  68. ^ http://www.webcitation.org/5PygXbBiy
  69. ^ http://www.webcitation.org/5PzBqgPKd
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  71. ^ http://www.webcitation.org/5Q0T8juTq
  72. ^ http://www.webcitation.org/5Q1WOEUxJ
  73. ^ ftp://ftp.met.fsu.edu/pub/weather/tropical/GuamStuff/2007070218-ABIO.PGTW
  74. ^ http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=126&art_id=nw20070702101934617C152494
  75. ^ http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Rains_claim_14_lives_in_Gujarat/articleshow/2167073.cms

[edit] External links

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