MONTHLY GLOBAL TROPICAL CYCLONE SUMMARY
OCTOBER, 2003
Part 2
(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: The October summary is being disseminated in two install-
ments. The first part covered the Atlantic and Northeast Pacific basins,
and also contained the Feature of the Month. This second installment
covers the Northwest Pacific and North Indian Ocean basins.
*************************************************************************
OCTOBER HIGHLIGHTS
--> Sluggish Gulf of Mexico tropical storm affects southern Mexico
--> Eastern Pacific storms affect Mexican West Coast
--> Year's fourth super typhoon forms in Western Pacific--executes
large clockwise loop
--> Minimal typhoon strikes Luzon
*************************************************************************
***** Feature of the Month for October *****
NOTE!!! - The Feature of the Month was contained in the first install-
ment of the October summary.
*************************************************************************
ACTIVITY BY BASINS
ATLANTIC (ATL) - North Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico
Activity for October: 3 tropical storms
3 hybrid LOWs
1 major hurricane **
** - storm formed in September but reached intense hurricane status
in early October
NOTE!!! - The Atlantic basin was covered in the first installment of
the October summary.
ADDENDUM - There was another Atlantic system I'd intended to mention but
forgot to include. The Tropical Weather Outlook issued at 0930 UTC
on 16 October mentioned a small low pressure system located roughly
500 nm west-southwest of the Cape Verde Islands. The LOW appeared to
be fairly well-organized, and on the 17th was accompanied by winds of
20-25 kts, but did not have enough organized convection to be considered
a tropical cyclone. Upper-level winds were not favorable for further
development and the system had weakened by the 19th.
*************************************************************************
NORTHEAST PACIFIC (NEP) - North Pacific Ocean East of Longitude 180
Activity for October: 3 hurricanes
NOTE!!! - The Northeast Pacific basin was covered in the first install-
ment of the October summary.
*************************************************************************
NORTHWEST PACIFIC (NWP) - North Pacific Ocean West of Longitude 180
Activity for October: 6 tropical depressions **
2 typhoons ++
1 super typhoon
** - Four of these numbered by JTWC--of these, one became a tropical
storm in Bay of Bengal. Two systems classified as depressions
by JMA only.
++ - One of these classified as a typhoon by JTWC only
Northwest Pacific Tropical Activity for October
-----------------------------------------------
The waters of the Northwest Pacific basin were quite active during the
month of October. Three typhoons developed--Ketsana, Parma and Melor--
with Parma briefly becoming the year's fourth super typhoon. Ketsana
and Parma remained at sea and did not significantly affect any islands.
Melor struck northeastern Luzon in the Philippines but apparently was
not destructive. Reports on all three typhoons are included below.
Reports follow also on two tropical depressions which caused heavy rain-
fall in Taiwan and Japan, respectively. One of these was unnumbered by
JTWC, but the other was classified as a tropical depression by that
agency and designated Tropical Depression 19W. The reports on both these
depressions were sent by Huang Chunaling--a special thanks to Chunliang
for compiling and sending the information. A special thanks also to
Kevin Boyle for writing the reports on Typhoons Ketsana and Melor.
In addition to these two tropical depressions, four other systems were
classified as tropical depressions by various TCWCs. Tropical Depression
18W formed on 6 October in the northern South China Sea about 300 nm
southeast of Hong Kong. This system was very slow-moving and meandered
around in the South China Sea for several days. The final warning from
JTWC at 10/0600 UTC placed the center 125 nm south of Hong Kong. The
highest 1-min avg MSW reported by JTWC was 25 kts, but JMA carried the
system for several days as a 30-kt depression. The Guangzhou Regional
Meteorological Centre (GRMC) also briefly estimated the depression's
intensity at 30 kts (10-min avg). The system had a very broad center and
was difficult to track--there were numerous discrepancies in the center
position as reported by the various warning centres.
Tropical Depression 22W, named Ursula by PAGASA, formed on 22 October
about 400 nm west-southwest of Manila. TD-19W/Ursula drifted generally
eastward without any further development. The depression crossed
northern Palawan Island and had reached the general area of Panay and
Negros Islands before dissipating on the 24th. The final warning from
PAGASA at 24/0000 UTC located the center about 300 nm south-southeast of
Manila. PAGASA and JMA estimated TD-19W/Ursula's intensity (10-min avg)
at 30 kts, but JTWC's highest reported MSW was only 25 kts.
Tropical Depression 23W formed in the Gulf of Thailand on 23 October.
This system eventually moved northwestward, crossing Thailand and
emerging into the Bay of Bengal, where it became a minimal tropical storm
before eventually making landfall in eastern India. Since this cyclone
reached its peak intensity in the Bay of Bengal, the report is included
in the section of this summary covering the North Indian Ocean basin.
A low pressure system in the vicinity of 16N, 152E, well east of the
Marianas, was classified as a weak tropical depression by JMA on the
16th of October. This LOW remained quasi-stationary and had weakened
into a low-pressure area by the 17th. No track was included for this
system in the accompanying tropical cyclone tracks file for October.
TROPICAL DEPRESSION
5 - 7 October
---------------------------------------
A. Synopsis
-----------
JMA's High Seas Bulletin issued at 05/0000 UTC mentioned a weak
tropical depression located about 450 nm southeast of the southern
tip of Taiwan. Apparently there was a broad trough of low pressure
in the region with several possible LLCCs. At 0600 UTC the system
was relocated far to the west, southwest of Taiwan. Then, at
1200 UTC it was relocated well to the east to a position about 150 nm
southeast of Taiwan's southern tip. The system remained in this
vicinity for a day or two as it edged a little closer to Taiwan.
At 06/1800 UTC the system had reached a point only about 35 nm
southeast of the island. The final reference to the system was at
07/0000 UTC. Taiwan's Central Weather Bureau also treated the LOW
as a tropical depression, issuing bulletins from 05/1800 UTC until
07/0600 UTC, when it was downgraded to a low-pressure area. JTWC
never issued warnings on the system, but did issue a TCFA at
05/1700 UTC. The TCFA was subsequently cancelled at 06/1000 UTC
when the system appeared to be weakening.
B. Rainfall Observations
------------------------
The depression was responsible for some fairly significant rains
on the island of Taiwan. Huang Chunliang compiled and sent the
following rainfall information on this system.
1. WMO stations (only amounts > 50 mm are given):
-------------------------------------------------
Station City/County Period (UTC) Rainfall
-------------------- --------------- ------------------- ---------
Ilan (WMO 46708) Ilan City 05/1600 - 06/1600 61.0 mm
An Bu (WMO 46691) Taipei City 05/1600 - 06/1600 54.0 mm
Suao (WMO 46706) Ilan City 05/1600 - 06/1600 50.5 mm
2. Automatic weather stations (only amounts > 100 mm are given):
----------------------------------------------------------------
CWB Station ID City/County Period Rainfall
-------------------- --------------- ------------------- ---------
C1U58 Ilan County 05/1600 - 06/1600 153.0 mm
C0A55 Taipei County 05/1600 - 06/1600 122.5 mm
C1U59 Ilan County 05/1600 - 06/1600 113.0 mm
C1U69 Ilan County 05/1600 - 06/1600 103.5 mm
C1A65 Taipei County 05/1600 - 06/1600 101.0 mm
(Report written by Gary Padgett and Huang Chunliang)
TROPICAL DEPRESSION
(TC-19W)
12 - 13 October
---------------------------------------
A. Introduction
---------------
Tropical Depression 19W was a system which formed in subtropical
latitudes and moved northeastward skirting the southern coast of Japan.
It seems that JTWC was the only warning agency which classified this
system as a tropical depression operationally. Huang Chunliang
discovered a detailed report which JMA had prepared on this system and
used it as a basis for a report which he sent me. Although treated
as an extratropical LOW by JMA operationally, Chunliang notes that some
Japanese websites referred to this system as a subtropical depression.
The initial JTWC warning, issued at 12/0000 UTC, located the center
approximately 180 nm south of Sasebo, Japan. Convection was building
over a LLCC which had formerly been a weakening extratropical LOW,
suggesting that transition to a warm-core system was taking place.
TD-19W moved generally northeastward, skirting the southern coastlines
of Shikoku and Honshu. A cold front was approaching from the northwest
and overtook the LOW about the time it reached the coast of the main
Japanese island of Honshu. The final JTWC warning was issued at
0000 UTC on 13 October. The center had moved inland south of Kyoto and
weakened, and was located approximately 205 nm west-southwest of Tokyo.
The remainder of this summary of TD-19W is based on the very detailed
report prepared by Huang Chunliang.
B. Daily Rainfall Observations
------------------------------
No WMO station reported a 24-hour total exceeding 100 mm. The highest
daily total of any WMO station was 82.0 mm from Tokushima in Tokushima
Prefecture (WMO 47895) during the period 11/1500 - 12/1500 UTC. Several
JMA stations recorded 24-hourly amounts exceeding 100 mm:
Station Prefecture JMA Code Alt (m) Rainfall (mm)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hakone Kanagawa 46161 850 126
Tomogashima Wakayama 65036 43 101
Ikegawa Kochi 74101 150 285
Fukuharaasahi Tokushima 71211 290 149
The first two entries were for the 24-hour period 12/1500 - 13/1500
UTC; the latter two for the 24 hours ending at 12/1500 UTC. The 285 mm
at Ikegawa broke the former October record for daily rainfall amounts
at the station.
C. Peak Hourly Rainfall Observations
------------------------------------
The only WMO station to record an hourly rainfall exceeding 50 mm
was Tokyo (WMO 47662). Between 0435 and 0535 UTC on 13 October the
station recorded 57.5 mm of rain. Out of this amount, 19.0 mm fell
during a 10-minute period, breaking the former October 10-minute rain-
fall record at the station, the previous being 13.0 mm reported on
17 October 1987.
Several JMA stations recorded hourly amounts exceeding 50 mm:
Station Prefecture JMA Code Alt (m) Rainfall (mm)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Edosaki Ibaraki 40391 25 56
Ryugasaki Ibaraki 40426 4 60
Nerima Tokyo 44076 38 53
Setagaya Tokyo 44126 35 57
Abiko Chiba 45056 20 61
Amikakeyama Nagano 48796 1120 58
Tomogashima Wakayama 65036 43 88
Ikegawa Kochi 74101 150 52
Nariyama Kochi 74176 737 57
Fukuharaasahi Tokushima 71211 290 53
D. Peak Wind Gust Observations
------------------------------
None of the stations listed by Chunliang reported sustained winds
exceeding gale force. However, quite a few reported peak gusts in excess
of 34 kts. These are tabulated below:
Station Prefecture WMO Code Alt Date/Time Gust/Dir
(m) (UTC) (kts)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Tokyo Tokyo 47662 6 13/0516 36/NNW
Ojima Tokyo 47675 74 13/0505 63/SW
Hachijojima Tokyo 47678 79 13/0442 47/SW
Miyakejima Tokyo 47677 36 13/0600 46/WSW
Choshi Chiba 47648 20 13/0717 52/NW
Tateyama Chiba 47672 6 13/0547 41/SW
Katsuura Chiba 47674 12 13/0604 54/SSW
Chiba Chiba 47682 4 13/0543 50/SW
Yokohama Kanagawa 47670 39 13/0510 60/WSW
Shizuoka Shizuoka 47656 14 13/0339 40/S
Hamamatsu Shizuoka 47654 32 13/0447 36/W
Omaezaki Shizuoka 47655 45 13/0317 57/SSW
Mishimi Shizuoka 47657 21 13/0404 40/SW
Irouzaki Shizuoka 47666 55 13/0426 53/SW
Ajiro Shizuoka 47668 67 13/0426 39/WSW
Irako Aichi 47653 6 13/0150 39/WSW
Tsu Mie 47651 3 13/0158 53/NNW
Wakayama Wakayama 47777 14 12/2316 40/N
Shionomisaki Wakayama 47778 73 12/2330 50/SW
Maitsuru Kyoto 47750 2 12/2210 35/NNE
Hikone Shiga 47761 87 13/0148 39/NW
E. Ship Reports
---------------
Date/Time Lat / Lon Call Sign Wind Speed Direction
(UTC) N / E (kts)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
10/0600 29.4 / 131.7 JPFT 38 ENE
10/0600 28.4 / 128.4 WDCJ 36 ENE
10/1800 27.3 / 129.4 JPFT 32 NE
11/0000 28.8 / 128.1 3EZF5 31 NE
11/0000 30.8 / 132.2 JGES 37 ENE
11/0300 28.7 / 130.5 9WCZ4 33 ENE
11/0600 30.7 / 130.4 ELWD5 31 E
11/0600 29.8 / 128.7 3ENO4 31 NNE
11/0600 29.7 / 130.7 JGES 31 E
12/0000 30.5 / 131.8 VNVF 36 SSE
Note: Presumably these are 10-min avg sustained winds.
F. Damage and Casualties
------------------------
Strong gusts triggered by TD-19W blew over cranes in two factories
in Kamisu Town, Ibaraki Prefecture, during the afternoon of October 13,
2003, leaving two workers dead and several injuries.
The strong wind knocked three steel cargo cars off 9-meter-high cranes
at the Kashima plant of the metal-processing firm Sumikin Weld Pipe
Company around 3:25 p.m. (JST) in Kamisu Town, Ibaraki Prefecture. A
crane operator died about an hour later from injuries sustained after
his car fell to the ground, while two others were thrown off but suffered
only minor injuries. According to the company's anemometer, wind gusts
were blowing as hard as 117 kts about 200 meters away from the site
around the time the accident occurred.
Separately, about three kilometers away at the Kashima steel mill of
Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd--the parent company's iron works of
Sumikin Weld Pipe Companies--two cargo cranes were struck with one of
them toppling in the strong winds and falling on a cargo ship anchored
beside it. Four other self-propelled cranes collided after being hit by
the strong winds, injuring one operator. A gust up to 78 kts was
observed there around 13/1525 JST.
In Kamisu Town 9052 homes were without electrical power after 13/1520
JST. One of the anemometers in the town reported a peak gust of around
107 kts at 13/1523 JST. Another anemometer located by the Gulf of
Kashima, near the two aforementioned factories, reported a peak gust of
approximately 87 kts around 13/1530 JST. The last gust report from
Kamisu Town came from Kashima also: a peak gust of approximately 78 kts
was recorded by an anemometer (alt 20 m) located in a Kashima factory
between 13/1500 JST and 13/1600 JST.
After the on-the-spot investigations in the aftermath, the Tokyo
District Meteorological Observatory concluded that downbursts triggered
the strong gusts in Kamisu Town, Ibaraki Prefecture, and Narita City,
Chiba Prefecture. According to their investigative report, the
magnitudes of the downbursts occurring in the two areas were estimated
at F1 (10-sec avg winds of 64 to 95 kts) to F2 (7-sec avg winds of 97 to
134 kts) and F1, respectively. It should be emphasized that both the
downbursts fell into the spots near the real-time center of TD-19W.
An F0 (15-sec avg winds of 33 to 62 kts) to F1 (10-sec avg winds of
64 to 95 kts) tornado occurred around 12/1000 JST, affecting a swath
approximately 1200 metres long by 200 metres wide in Akano District,
Aki City, Kochi Prefecture, with 19 houses being damaged. The
agricultural losses there were estimated at 18,582 yen.
The low-pressure system unleashed a brief but punishing torrent on
quite a few regions in southern Japan, where damage to roadways, rail-
ways, riverways and trees was reported as strong winds and heavy rains
buffeted there, resulting in landslides, train delays, etc. There were
at least two fatalities by drowning reported.
G. References (Japanese Versions Only)
--------------------------------------
This Special Report was distilled, translated and edited from the
following JMA materials:
<http://www.tokyo-jma.go.jp/sub_index/bosai/disaster/20031015/
20031015.pdf>
<http://www.tokyo-jma.go.jp/sub_index/bosai/disaster/20031014/
20031014.pdf>
<http://www.tokyo-jma.go.jp/home/mito/topics/news2003.pdf>
<http://www.tokyo-jma.go.jp/home/gaikyo/629/629_10.pdf>
<http://www.tokyo-jma.go.jp/home/gaikyo/648/648_10.pdf>
<http://www.tokyo-jma.go.jp/home/gaikyo/670/670_10.pdf>
<http://www.osaka-jma.go.jp/gyomusyokai/kikocho/huken_hp/200310/
shiga.pdf>
<http://www.osaka-jma.go.jp/wakayama/hakkoubutu/wakayama_kishou/
0310.pdf>
<http://www.osaka-jma.go.jp/kyoto/data/kyoto-kisho-200310.pdf>
<http://www.osaka-jma.go.jp/gyomusyokai/kikocho/huken_hp/200310/
tokushima.pdf>
<http://www.osaka-jma.go.jp/kochi/fuken_kishou/200310.pdf>
<http://www.osaka-jma.go.jp/gyomusyokai/kikocho/huken_hp/200310/
ehime.pdf>
TYPHOON KETSANA
(TC-20W / TY 0317 / TISOY)
17 - 29 October
----------------------------------------------
Ketsana: contributed by Laos, is a kind of perfumed wood
Tisoy: PAGASA name, is the Tagalog word for persons of mixed
racial ancestry
A. Storm Origins
----------------
Typhoon Ketsana developed from an area of convection located
approximately 395 nm west-southwest of Guam, and was first noted in
JTWC's STWO issued at 15/0600 UTC. The development potential was
assessed as poor and remained so for several days as the broad LOW and
its associated area of disorganised, cycling convection moved slowly to
the west and west-northwest. By 0600 UTC on the 18th of October the
complex LLCC had shifted to a position approximately 530 nm east of
Manila, Philippines. The chances of a tropical cyclone developing were
finally raised to fair at 18/0930 UTC, and then to good and a TCFA
issued at 18/1300 UTC. At this time animated infrared satellite imagery
revealed that a westerly wind burst was converging with and enhancing
the broad LLCC, which was moving very slowly west-northwestward at
2 kts. The first warning on Tropical Depression 20W was issued soon
afterward at 18/1800 UTC.
B. Storm History
----------------
Tropical Depression 20W was located in the westernmost part of a
large monsoon trough which also encompassed another disturbance on its
eastern side. This system eventually became Typhoon Parma (TC-21W).
TD-20W was moving very little at 18/1800 UTC while located approximately
450 nm south of Okinawa, but developed rapidly into a 35-kt tropical
storm at 19/0000 UTC. Following JMA's upgrade to tropical storm status,
the name Ketsana was introduced from the international naming list.
(PAGASA's internal name was Tisoy.) Throughout the 20th and 21st
movement was slow with only weak northeasterly steering currents
controlling Ketsana. Intensification wasn't so slow, though, and at
20/1200 UTC Ketsana had outgrown its tropical storm phase and was
upgraded to a 65-kt typhoon. The centre's location at this time was
775 nm southwest of Iwo Jima. Infrared satellite imagery began depicting
an eye as the MSW reached 80 kts at 20/1800 UTC. This was backed up by
a 20/1739 UTC AMSU pass which revealed a 16-nm eye.
The ragged eye had expanded to 29 nm by 0000 UTC on 21 October. The
storm's centre moved only 15 nm closer to Iwo Jima between 20/1200 and
21/0000 UTC. The slow motion continued throughout the day, as did
strengthening. By 21/1200 UTC the MSW had reached 125 kts, just shy of
super typhoon classification. However, intensification came to a halt
at this point and 125 kts was to be Ketsana's peak intensity. Ketsana
maintained this intensity for the rest of the day and into the 22nd,
by which time it was moving a little more quickly toward the north or
north-northeast at 4 to 6 kts. It also retained its symmetrical 20-nm
eye, although some erosion was noted in the northeastern quadrant on a
22/0000 UTC microwave pass. Weakening began at 22/1800 UTC with the
MSW falling to 115 kts, the eye now appearing in satellite images as a
weak, ragged feature.
At 23/0000 UTC Typhoon Ketsana was located approximately 600 nm west-
southwest of Iwo Jima, moving slowly northeastward at 6 kts. The 30-nm
eye had returned once more, but a weakening trend had set in with the
intensity falling to 100 kts by 23/1800 UTC. A change was afoot the
next day as the northeasterly motion began to accelerate and satellite
imagery showed that shearing was beginning to elongate the northern part
of the cloud pattern. Also, a mass of stratocumulus cloud was evident
to the northwest of Ketsana, indicating the presence of colder, drier
and more stable air. Another possible factor contributing to Ketsana's
weakening was interference from a large disturbance (pre-Melor) located
to the southeast.
At 0000 UTC on 24 October Typhoon Ketsana was centred 500 nm west-
southwest of Iwo Jima and moving northeastward at 4 kts. A 16-nm
diameter eye was visible, but the warning issued at 24/0600 UTC
indicated that Ketsana was beginning extratropical transition. The
MSW had fallen to 85 kts by 24/1800 UTC, and drier air had penetrated
into the circulation by this time. The forward speed had doubled,
reaching 16 kts at 25/0000 UTC as Ketsana kept up its northeast to
north-northeastward heading. At the time of the last JTWC warning at
26/0000 UTC, the MSW had fallen to 70 kts and Ketsana was racing north-
eastward at 34 kts over waters east of Japan. The extratropical storm
continued northeastward, turning more to the north on the 28th. By 0000
UTC on 29 October the former typhoon was a weakening 35-kt gale located
in the Bering Sea.
(Editor's Note: The peak 10-min avg MSW assigned by JMA was 85 kts
with an attendant minimum CP of 940 hPa. Ketsana's peak MSW estimates
from NMCC, PAGASA, and CWBT were 100 kts, 85 kts, and 85 kts,
respectively.)
C. Casualties and Damage
------------------------
Typhoon Ketsana was a threat to marine interests only and no
casualties or damages are known to have resulted from the cyclone.
(Report written by Kevin Boyle)
SUPER TYPHOON PARMA
(TC-21W / TY 0318)
20 October - 2 November
-------------------------------------------
Parma: contributed by Macau, is a favorite Macanese food served in
Portuguese restaurants in Macau--ham with chicken livers and
mushrooms
A. Storm Origins
----------------
The long, illustrious career of Typhoon Parma began on 18 October when
an area of convection developed about 200 nm east-northeast of Guam. A
broad zone of convection south of a weak LLCC was noted, and an upper-
air analysis indicated weak vertical shear and equatorward diffluence
over the region. The STWO initially referencing the disturbance was
issued by JTWC at 18/0300 UTC, and at 0700 UTC another interim STWO was
released, locating the system a little further north to a position about
230 nm northeast of Guam and upgrading the development potential to fair.
Satellite imagery revealed a very small area of deep convection
associated with a well-organized mid-level circulation; maximum surface
winds were estimated at 15-20 kts.
At 1100 UTC on 19 October a TCFA was issued. Convection was starting
to organize over the LLCC, vertical shear was weak, and outflow was
fair. The MSW was then estimated at around 20-25 kts. At 0600 UTC
on the 20th, JMA classified the system as a 30-kt tropical depression.
At 20/1100 UTC JTWC re-issued the TCFA, locating the system about 280 nm
south-southeast of Iwo Jima. Shortly afterward, the first JTWC warning
on Tropical Depression 21W was issued. The depression was tracking
west-northwestward at 6 kts and the initial warning intensity was
estimated at 25 kts. The system was being steered by a low to mid-level
ridge located to the east, but was forecast to veer toward the northeast
after about 12 hours. By 1800 UTC TD-21W was located about 240 nm
south-southeast of Iwo Jima and was moving northwestward at 7 kts. Water
vapor imagery indicated increasing convection in all quadrants and the
MSW was upped to 30 kts.
B. Storm History
----------------
The depression was upgraded to tropical storm intensity at 21/0000 UTC
by JTWC, NMCC and JMA with the latter assigning the name Parma. The
LLCC was on the eastern edge of the deep convection and CI estimates
were 35 kts. By 0600 UTC Tropical Storm Parma was moving slowly north-
eastward as a ridge to the southeast strengthened. JTWC relocated the
center 75 nm east of the 0000 UTC position based upon visible satellite
imagery. Parma's center at 0600 UTC was located approximately 250 nm
southeast of Iwo Jima. The cyclone continued to steadily intensify
as it moved slowly northeastward, and by 0600 UTC on 22 October the
center was located about 320 nm east-southeast of Iwo Jima. The storm
was exhibiting tightly-curved banding with outflow in all directions.
JTWC (and NMCC) upped the winds to 60 kts, but interestingly, JMA
upgraded Parma to typhoon status at 0600 UTC. The other two agencies
upgraded Parma to a typhoon six hours later. Microwave imagery (85 GHz)
from a TRMM pass at 22/1129 UTC revealed a ragged 40-nm diameter eye
beginning to form.
Late on 22 October Typhoon Parma begin to intensify rapidly. The
MSW was bumped to 80 kts at 23/0000 UTC, to 90 kts at 0600 UTC, and to
110 kts at 1200 UTC. At the latter hour the typhoon was centered about
535 nm east-northeast of Iwo Jima. A 23/1031 UTC SSM/I pass indicated
the presence of a 35-nm diameter eye, and CI estimates ranged from 90
to 115 kts. The northeastward motion continued, gradually accelerating
to 17 kts by 1800 UTC with the storm located approximately 1500 nm west
of Midway Island. After a slight weakening at 23/1800 UTC, Parma's
intensification trend continued on the 24th. JTWC upped the MSW to
125 kts at 24/0600 UTC, based on CI estimates of 115, 127 and 140 kts.
Animated multi-spectral imagery revealed a 30-nm diameter eye with good
poleward and equatorward outflow. A 24/1023 UTC SSM/I pass showed the
beginning of some dry air entrainment into the western side of the
system, but this was not enough to keep Parma from continuing to
intensify.
The storm reached its peak intensity of 130 kts at 1200 UTC, based
on CI estimates of 127 and 140 kts, making Parma the season's fourth
super typhoon (per JTWC nomenclature). It is very unusual indeed for
a tropical cyclone to attain super typhoon status north of the 30th
parallel. Super Typhoon Parma was then located approximately 1265 nm
west-northwest of Midway Island. The storm's motion had become
increasingly easterly with Parma moving east-northeastward at 22 kts,
and by 1800 UTC the storm was racing eastward at 27 kts. A 24/1435 UTC
TRMM pass depicted a 35-nm diameter eye, and storm-force winds extended
outward over 100 nm to the northeast and southeast and out to 65 nm in
the western quadrants. Gales covered an area almost 300 nm in diameter.
The minimum CP estimated by JMA was 930 mb. JMA's and NMCC's peak
10-min avg MSW estimates were 95 and 90 kts, respectively. Parma was a
rare example of an intense typhoon for which JMA's intensity estimates
exceeded those from NMCC.
Parma did not remain a super typhoon for long--a 24/2248 UTC SSM/I
pass depicted eyewall erosion in the northwest quadrant, so the MSW
was decreased to 125 kts at 25/0000 UTC. The storm's motion had by
this time become east-southeasterly at 19 kts as it tracked along the
northeastern periphery of a large mid-level ridge to the southwest.
Typhoon Parma over the next few days would circumnavigate this ridge,
describing a huge anticyclonic loop spanning 20 degrees of longitude
and almost 10 degrees of latitude. By 25/1200 UTC the typhoon had
weakened to 115 kts, and the eye was not apparent in infrared imagery,
although bursts of new convection were being noted. Parma was then
located approximately 500 nm north of Wake Island and was moving
southeastward at 21 kts along the eastern side of the aforementioned
steering ridge.
The 26th of October saw Typhoon Parma weaken to minimal typhoon
status as it moved past the ridge axis and changed to a southwesterly
heading. The system ran into some northerly shear, but a 26/0704 UTC
SSM/I pass indicated that it was still vertically stacked. The storm
was moving south-southeastward at 9 kts at 0600 UTC, but by 1200 UTC
the motion had changed to southwesterly at 16 kts, and to west-
southwesterly by 1800 UTC. The MSW was dropped to 65 kts at 1800 UTC,
although water vapor imagery indicated that outflow was being enhanced
by an upper-level trough to the east of the typhoon. Parma at this
time was centered approximately 175 nm north-northeast of Wake Island.
The steady-state minimal typhoon continued moving westward on the 27th
around the southern side of the steering ridge. Satellite CI estimates
remained at 65 and 77 kts, but a 27/0847 UTC SSM/I pass indicated that
the system had strengthened during the past 12 hours and that a 60-nm
diameter microwave eye had formed. This was the beginning of Parma,
Round 2. JTWC upped the winds to 75 kts at 1200 UTC with the storm
located 265 nm northwest of Wake Island. By 1800 UTC Parma was zipping
westward at 20 kts.
The rapid westward motion continued through 28 October, becoming
west-northwestward by 28/1800 UTC. At 1200 UTC Parma was centered
about 720 nm west-northwest of Wake Island, and although CI estimates
were still 65 and 77 kts, the cyclone had moved into an area of
favorable diffluence aloft and was showing continued signs of further
intensification. JTWC upped the MSW to 80 kts at this time, and JMA
upgraded Parma to typhoon status once more. Two significant things
happened to Typhoon Parma on 29 October: (1) the storm's heading
changed abruptly from northwestward to northeastward, and (2) the storm
reached intense typhoon status for the second time. The recurvature
toward the northeast was well-forecast. A trough approaching from the
west weakened the ridge and the typhoon increasingly turned toward the
northwest. By 29/1800 UTC the storm's motion had become northeasterly
at 9 kts. JTWC upped the MSW to 95 kts at 29/0000 UTC; satellite
intensity estimates were 90 and 102 kts, and the system sported a
well-defined 15-nm eye. By 1200 UTC Parma was located approximately
590 nm north-northeast of Saipan, and CI estimates ranged from 102 to
127 kts. The typhoon had become better organized with warmer eye
temperatures.
Typhoon Parma reached a secondary peak intensity of 115 kts at 1800
UTC on 29 October. (JMA's and NMCC's estimated peak 10-min avg MSW
values during this phase of Parma's life were 85 and 90 kts,
respectively.) This second intensification of Parma into an intense
typhoon at a fairly high latitude (26N) was quite unusual, and another
very interesting aspect of this phase of the storm's life was the track.
From the point of recurvature at 29/1200 UTC until the typhoon had
crossed 160E once more around 31/0000 UTC, Parma's track lay almost
perfectly on top of its former trajectory of a week earlier.
The secondary peak intensity of 115 kts was maintained through 0000
UTC on 30 October. Microwave imagery suggested that Parma had concentric
eyewalls, but a 29/2314 UTC SSM/I pass depicted eyewall erosion in the
northwest quadrant of the inner eyewall. The storm was beginning to
feel the effects of northwesterly shear, and its demise was rather
rapid. By 30/1800 UTC Parma winds were down to 85 kts, and the storm
was moving rapidly east-northeastward at 26 kts from a position about
825 nm northwest of Wake Island. The typhoon was already beginning
to interact with a baroclinic zone and was forecast to be extratropical
within 12 hours. Animated visible imagery around 31/0000 UTC indicated
that the LLCC was exposed on the southern edge of the deep convection.
Parma had crossed the ridge axis and had become decoupled from the mid-
level circulation. JTWC decreased the MSW to 70 kts, and the final
warning from that agency was issued at 31/0600 UTC. Parma at this time
was located approximately 750 nm north of Wake Island, racing east-
northeastward at 32 kts. The MSW had fallen to 55 kts and animated
water vapor imagery indicated that the system was completely extra-
tropical. The remnant extratropical storm continued to race east-
northeastward across the North Pacific as it slowly weakened. The final
reference to the system in JMA's bulletins at 0000 UTC on 2 November
placed a 30-kt LOW about 500 nm to the east-northeast of Midway Island.
C. Damage and Casualties
------------------------
No damage or casualties are known to have resulted from Super Typhoon
Parma.
(Report written by Gary Padgett)
TYPHOON MELOR
(TC-24W / STS 0319 / VIRING)
30 October - 5 November
-----------------------------------------------
Melor: contributed by Malaysia, is the jasmine flower, a pleasant-
smelling flower traditionally used to decorate ladies hair
Viring: PAGASA name, is a Filipino female nickname
A. Storm Origins
----------------
At 0600 UTC on 28 October JTWC issued a STWO for an area of convection
located approximately 220 nm north-northwest of Palau. QuikScat data
revealed a weak LLCC at this time and the development potential was
assessed as poor. This suspect area increased in organisation and
convection, prompting an upgrade to fair development potential at
28/1430 UTC. This was followed by the issuance of a TCFA at 30/0330 UTC.
The first warning on Tropical Depression 24W was released at 30/0600 UTC,
locating the centre of the small system approximately 200 nm east of
the Philippines. The second warning, at 30/1200 UTC, upgraded the
depression to tropical storm status with JMA simultaneously upgrading and
naming the storm Melor. (PAGASA had already named the system Viring by
this time.)
B. Storm History
----------------
Tropical Storm Melor was moving west-northwestward towards the
Philippines at 10 kts at 31/0000 UTC. The MSW at this time was 45 kts,
and Melor quickly outgrew its humble, pint-sized beginnings,
strengthening to minimum typhoon intensity by 31/1200 UTC. A large
45-nm irregular eye was observed at 31/1112 UTC in SSM/I imagery. At
the time of the upgrade to 65 kts, Melor was located 190 nm east-
northeast of Manila, Philippines, and still moving on a west-
northwesterly path at 13 kts. This west-northwesterly heading changed
to northwesterly at 1800 UTC as a mid-level ridge began to build over
southeastern China.
There was room for more intensification on the 1st of November and
the MSW strengthened to a peak of 75 kts at 01/0600 UTC. By this time
Typhoon Melor had turned toward the northwest and was crossing Luzon
with typhoon-force winds, but signs of weakening were evident with the
effects of landfall weakening the associated deep convection. Also,
clouds could be seen in satellite images streaming away from Melor's
northern sectors under the effects of shearing. The intensity fell to
65 kts at 1800 UTC, and then to below typhoon intensity at 02/0000 UTC.
At 0000 UTC on 2 November the downgraded Tropical Storm Melor was
located approximately 370 nm north of Manila, tracking north-
northwestward at 7 kts. Multi-spectral and infrared satellite imagery
revealed that the majority of the deep convection was concentrated in
an area north of the partially-exposed LLCC. Melor managed to maintain
a MSW of 60-kt through the 2nd as it turned northward, its ragged eye
feature clipping the southern coastline of Taiwan at 02/1200 UTC.
Following dry air entrainment, Melor's strength declined further with
the MSW dropping to 55 kts at 02/1800 UTC.
Infrared satellite imagery at 0000 UTC on 3 November showed an untidy,
messy circulation almost devoid of deep convection. Tropical Storm
Melor, now approximately 125 nm south of Taipei, Taiwan, was moving
north-northeastward at 8 kts with a MSW of 45 kt. This intensity was
maintained throughout the 3rd, and despite Melor's forming a weak
circular CDO feature, as seen in 03/1200 UTC infrared satellite imagery,
the tropical cyclone was dissipating as a significant tropical cyclone
over water.
At 0000 UTC on the 4th Melor had weakened to a weak swirl of low
clouds barely at tropical storm intensity. Animated multi-spectral
imagery indicated that the mid-level circulation had separated from the
completely-exposed LLCC. JTWC declared the system extratropical and
issued the final warning, locating the centre approximately 245 nm
southwest of Okinawa. The remnant circulation could be seen being
dragged off east-northeastward by a frontal system. The LOW passed well
south of Japan during the 4th, and by 05/0000 UTC was barely discernible
in satellite images.
(Editor's Note: It should be pointed out that JTWC was the only agency
to classify Melor as a typhoon. A peak 10-min avg MSW of 60 kts was
reported by all the Asian TCWCs. The lowest CP estimated by JMA was
975 hPa. JTWC's peak 1-min avg MSW of 75 kts occurred at 0600 UTC on
1 November after the center of Melor had already made landfall in Luzon,
so 75 kts could be a little questionable.)
C. Meteorological Observations
------------------------------
The following meteorological observations from Taiwan were compiled
and sent by Huang Chunliang. A special thanks to Chunliang for sending
the information.
Station City/County Period (UTC) Rainfall (mm)
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Kenting Pingtung County 01/1600 - 02/2100 554
Checheng Pingtung County 01/1600 - 02/1500 400
Chih Pen Taitung County 01/1600 - 02/2100 191
Lanyu Taitung County 01/1600 - 03/0000 142
Dawu Taitung County 01/1600 - 02/2100 182
Melor broke a record in the history of Station Hengchun (WMO 46759/
59559), the new one for daily rainfall recorded in November being
430.5 mm (01/1600 - 02/1600 UTC, November, 2003).
Station Lanyu (WMO 46762/59567, Altitude 325 m) experienced gusts
of typhoon force during the passage of Melor.
Station: Hateruma, Okinawa (JMA 94116)
--------------------------------------
Latitude: 24.06 N Longitude: 123.77 E Altitude: 38 m
Rainfall Period (UTC) - November, 2003
---------- -------------------------------
34 mm 03/1200 - 03/1300
92 mm 03/1300 - 03/1400
34 mm 03/1400 - 03/1500
Melor broke two records in the history of the station, the new
ones for hourly and daily rainfall recorded in November being 92 mm
(03/1300 - 03/1400 UTC) and 181 mm (02/1500 - 03/1500 UTC),
respectively.
D. Damage and Casualties
------------------------
No reports of damage of casualties resulting from Typhoon Melor
have been received. The storm did strike Luzon as either a strong
tropical storm or minimal typhoon, but not even the ReliefWeb's
internet site contains any information about Melor's effects in
the Philippines. Therefore, it seems quite likely that there were
few if any casualties and that damage was relatively light.
(Report written by Kevin Boyle with contributions by Huang Chunliang)
*************************************************************************
NORTH INDIAN OCEAN (NIO) - Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea
Activity for October: 1 tropical depression **
1 tropical storm ++
** - treated as a tropical depression by IMD only
++ - visitor from Gulf of Thailand--treated as a tropical depression
by IMD and Thai Meteorological Department
North Indian Ocean Tropical Activity for October
------------------------------------------------
Two systems traversed the waters of the Bay of Bengal during October.
The first of these was treated as a depression by the India Meteor-
ological Department (IMD) only. The second was Tropical Depression 23W,
a visitor from the Gulf of Thailand, which reached minimal tropical storm
intensity (per JTWC's analysis) before moving inland in India. Huang
Chunliang compiled and sent some rainfall reports from both systems, as
well as some press reports describing damage in Thailand due to flooding
associated with the early stages of TD-23W. A special thanks to Chun-
liang for sending the information.
TROPICAL DEPRESSION
6 - 8 October
---------------------------------------
This system was classified as a depression by the Meteorological
Department of India (IMD) only. IMD upgraded the LOW to a depression
at 0300 UTC on 6 October when located approximately 100 nm southeast
of Visakhapatnam. JTWC issued no warnings nor TCFA, but did assign
a fair development potential at one point. The system moved generally
north-northwestward, and according to the IMD warnings, crossed the
north Andhra coast near Kalingapatnam around 06/2130 UTC. The system
had weakened into a low-pressure area by 09/0300 UTC. No peak winds
were specified in IMD's bulletins, but it was classified as only a
depression (25 kts) as opposed to a deep depression (30 kts).
Following are rainfall reports from various stations in India:
State/Union Territory Station Period (UTC) Rain (cm)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Orissa Berhampore 05/0300 - 06/0300 15
Orissa Puri 05/0300 - 06/0300 12
Orissa Gopalpur 05/0300 - 06/0300 16
Orissa Gopalpur 06/0300 - 07/0300 10
Orissa Chandbali 06/0300 - 07/0300 27
Orissa Cuttack 06/0300 - 07/0300 11
Orissa Paradeep 06/0300 - 07/0300 10
West Bengal Digha 06/0300 - 07/0300 23
Andhra Pradesh Parvathipuram 06/0300 - 07/0300 13
Andhra Pradesh Vishakapatnam 06/0300 - 07/0300 12.3
West Bengal Calcutta (ALP) 07/0300 - 08/0300 10.91
West Bengal Calcutta (DD) 07/0300 - 08/0300 16.23
West Bengal Canningtown 07/0300 - 08/0300 23
West Bengal Dum-Dum 07/0300 - 08/0300 16
West Bengal Mohanpur 07/0300 - 08/0300 14
West Bengal Midnapore 07/0300 - 08/0300 13
West Bengal Alipore 07/0300 - 08/0300 11
Orissa Akhuapada 07/0300 - 08/0300 12
Orissa Anandapur 07/0300 - 08/0300 11
Orissa Baripada 07/0300 - 08/0300 11
Orissa Chandbali 07/0300 - 08/0300 11
Orissa Jeypore 07/0300 - 08/0300 11
West Bengal Calcutta (ALP) 07/0300 - 08/0300 16
West Bengal Digha 07/0300 - 08/0300 14
Chhattisgarh Jagdalpur 07/0300 - 08/0300 14
Jharkhand Tenughat 08/0300 - 09/0300 22
Jharkhand Konar 08/0300 - 09/0300 16
Jharkhand Ramgarh 08/0300 - 09/0300 15
Jharkhand Hindigir 08/0300 - 09/0300 11
Jharkhand Maharo 08/0300 - 09/0300 11
Jharkhand Ranchi 08/0300 - 09/0300 10
Jharkhand Barkisurya 08/0300 - 09/0300 10
Bihar Tantloi 08/0300 - 09/0300 13
Bihar Messanjore 08/0300 - 09/0300 13
West Bengal Malda 09/0300 - 10/0300 15
West Bengal Cooch-behar 09/0300 - 10/0300 13
West Bengal Alipurduar 09/0300 - 10/0300 11
West Bengal Jalpaiguri 09/0300 - 10/0300 11
West Bengal Domohani 09/0300 - 10/0300 10
Bihar Bhagalpur 09/0300 - 10/0300 11
Assam Tezpur 10/0300 - 11/0300 14
Assam Guwahati 10/0300 - 11/0300 11
West Bengal Jalpaiguri 10/0300 - 11/0300 11
Meghalaya Shillong 10/0300 - 11/0300 19
Note: IMD only classified the system as a depression from 6-8 October,
2003. Significant storm rains during both the formative and fading
stages, however, are also listed above.
(Report written by Gary Padgett based primarily upon information sent
by Huang Chunliang)
TROPICAL STORM
(TC-23W)
22 - 28 October
-----------------------------------
A. Storm History
----------------
A STWO issued by JTWC at 1700 UTC on 21 October noted that an area
of convection had developed in the Gulf of Thailand about 250 nm south
of Bangkok. Microwave imagery depicted a well-defined LLCC, and a
200-mb analysis indicated weak to moderate vertical shear with good
diffluence aloft. The initial development potential was assessed as
fair. By 2300 UTC the convective organization had continued to improve
so the development potential was upgraded to good. At 0600 UTC on
22 October the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) initiated tropical
depression bulletins on the system. At 23/0600 UTC the system was
centered approximately 200 nm south of Bangkok or about 130 nm east of
the Malay Peninsula. Convection was still cycling over a partially-
exposed LLCC so warnings were not initiated. However, a QuikScat pass
shortly afterward revealed an unflagged 25-kt wind vector, so the first
JTWC warning on Tropical Depression 23W was issued at 0900 UTC. The
depression was quasi-stationary at the time, but after about 24 hours
was forecast to begin tracking westward along the southern periphery
of a low to mid-level ridge to the north.
The depression remained quasi-stationary for most of the 23rd, but
by 1800 UTC was moving north-northwestward at 5 kts. The system was
located in an environment of weak steering south of a low to mid-level
ridge. Satellite imagery revealed a compact LLCC with persistent but
disorganized deep convection. At 0600 UTC on 24 October the center of
TD-23W was located about 130 nm south of Bangkok, still moving slowly
northwestward. The system had not changed appreciably in organization
since the previous day. As the day wore on the center of TD-23W
approached the coast of Thailand and began to weaken. The center made
landfall near Hua Hin at approximately 24/1500 UTC with winds estimated
at 25 kts, gusting to 35 kts. At 1800 UTC the depression's center was
located approximately 30 nm northwest of Hua Hin, moving northwestward
at 8 kts. By 0600 UTC on 25 October TD-23W had moved into the Bay of
Bengal and was located approximately 185 nm west-southwest of Bangkok.
This position represented a major westward relocation of the center.
Animated multi-spectral imagery and data from a recent QuikScat pass
revealed that the center was located much farther west from the previous
warning position. At 1800 UTC the system was tracking westward at
13 kts as the ridge to the north built. However, convection appeared
to have weakened during the previous 12 hours.
By 1800 UTC on 26 October the depression was located about 90 nm west
of the Andaman Islands, tracking westward at 10 kts. Satellite CI
estimates were 25 and 30 kts, but animated enhanced infrared imagery
indicated increasing deep convection over the LLCC, so the MSW was upped
to 30 kts. The system's organization continued to improve and some CI
estimates had reached 35 kts by 27/0600 UTC. The LLCC was partially-
exposed, but deep convection was continuing to build near the center.
JTWC upped the MSW to 35 kts at 0600 UTC with the center located about
400 nm south of Calcutta. The system was then moving west-northwestward
at 14 kts. By 1800 the storm was moving northwestward at an even faster
speed of 19 kts. Intensity estimates were 30 and 35 kts, so the MSW
remained at 35 kts. Since TC-23W was forecast to encounter a slightly
more favorable upper-level environment, some slight strengthening was
forecast before landfall in eastern India. By 0600 UTC on 28 October
TC-23W had made landfall and was weakening. The final JTWC warning at
28/0600 UTC placed the center about 50 nm northeast of Visakhapatnam,
India.
B. Meteorological Observations
------------------------------
(1) Thailand
------------
According to the TMD warnings, Tropical Depression 23W had made
landfall over Prachuap Khiri Khan Province by 24/0900 UTC on 24 October,
2003. Following are some rainfall reports sent by Huang Chunliang.
Province/ Station Period Rain
Metropolis (UTC) (mm)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trang Sikao 21/0000 - 22/0000 127.7
Prachuap Khiri Khan Hua Hin 24/0000 - 25/0000 197.0
Prachuap Khiri Khan Nong Plub (Agromet)* 23/1200 - 24/1200 145
Prachuap Khiri Khan Nong Plub (Agromet)* 24/0000 - 25/0000 187
Bangkok Lam Hin Police Station 24/0000 - 25/0000 69.0
Note (*): Agromet = Agrometeorological Station
(2) India
---------
According to the IMD warnings, TC-23W crossed coastal Andhra Pradesh
between Visakhapatnam and Kalingaptnam as a deep depression (i.e.,
30 kts) around 28/0900 UTC.
Station Dummagudem, in the state of Andhra Pradesh, recorded 12 cm of
rainfall in the 24 hours between 28/0300 and 29/0300 UTC.
C. Damage and Casualties
------------------------
The following information was condensed from press reports sent to
the author by Huang Chunliang.
Thousands were hit by monsoon flooding along Thailand's south-central
coast, bringing road and rail transport to a virtual halt and forcing the
evacuation of more than 700 people. Nearly 10,000 people were affected
by heavy rains (200-300 mm) that lashed Phetchaburi Province, adjacent
Prachuap Khiri Khan to the south, and Ratchaburi. More than 8700 people
were severely affected in Phetchaburi alone, where 746 people were
evacuated from their homes. The State Railway of Thailand suspended
service between Bangkok and points south of Petchaburi, stranding
thousands of would-be passengers in the capital, while flash-flooding
rendered several main roadways impassable.
The series of severe tropical storms also wrought havoc at sea, with
at least 20 fishermen still missing (at the time of the report) from two
trawlers that capsized in the Gulf of Thailand. The trawlers capsized
between 40 and 60 nautical miles (74 and 111 kilometres) east of the
popular destination island of Ko Samui during a fierce tropical storm.
Police and rescuers from a nearby gas drilling platform saved 15 men who
were on the ill-fated boats. The Thai navy helped rescue some 300
tourists from the southern resort island of Koh Tao, near Ko Samui, after
high seas left them stranded without ferry or flight service.
(Report written by Gary Padgett with significant contributions by
Huang Chunliang)
*************************************************************************
SOUTHWEST INDIAN OCEAN (SWI) - South Indian Ocean West of Longitude 90E
Activity for October: No tropical cyclones
Southwest Indian Ocean Tropical Activity for October
----------------------------------------------------
No tropical cyclones formed in the Southwest Indian Ocean during the
month of October. A tropical depression formed in late September and
was named Tropical Storm Abaimba on 1 October. This system meandered
slowly for a few days deep in the tropics several hundred miles west of
Diego Garcia. The report on Abaimba can be found in the September
tropical cyclone summary.
*************************************************************************
NORTHWEST AUSTRALIA/SOUTHEAST INDIAN OCEAN (AUW) - From 90E to 135E
Activity for October: No tropical cyclones
*************************************************************************
NORTHEAST AUSTRALIA/CORAL SEA (AUE) - From 135E to 160E
Activity for October: No tropical cyclones
*************************************************************************
SOUTH PACIFIC (SPA) - South Pacific Ocean East of Longitude 160E
Activity for October: No tropical cyclones
*************************************************************************
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
from the archive sites listed below. (Note: I do have a limited e-mail
distribution list for the track files. If anyone wishes to receive
these via e-mail, please send me a message.)
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. Back issues can be obtained from the following websites
(courtesy of Michael Bath, Michael V. Padua, Michael Pitt, and
Chris Landsea):
<http://australiasevereweather.com/cyclones/>
<http://www.typhoon2000.ph>
<http://mpittweather.com>
<ftp://ftp.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/pub/landsea/padgett/>
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 2002 (2001-2002 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 2002 Atlantic and Eastern North Pacific
tropical cyclones; also, storm reports for all the 2002 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 McLeans Ridges, New South Wales,
Australia, for assisting me with proofreading the summaries.
PREPARED BY
Gary Padgett
E-mail: garyp@alaweb.com
Phone: 334-222-5327
Kevin Boyle (Eastern Atlantic, Western Northwest Pacific, South
China Sea)
E-mail: newchapelobservatory@btinternet.com
Huang Chunliang (Assistance with Western Northwest Pacific, South
China Sea)
E-mail: huangchunliang@hotmail.com
Simon Clarke (Northeast Australia/Coral Sea, South Pacific)
E-mail: saclarke@iprimus.com.au
*************************************************************************
*************************************************************************
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