MONTHLY GLOBAL TROPICAL CYCLONE SUMMARY
AUGUST, 2004
First Installment
(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.)
NOTE: Due to the incredibly high level of tropical cyclone activity
across the Northern Hemisphere during the month of August, I have
decided to disseminate the August summary in four installments in order
to expedite the storm reports and to present them in smaller, more
digestible portions. The installments will be as follows (dates refer
to storms which formed during the indicated time frame):
Part One: August 1 - 9 (Sent 7 October)
Part Two: August 10 - 16
Part Three: August 17 - 23, plus Monthly Feature
Part Four: August 24 - 31
*************************************************************************
SPECIAL FEATURE - SOURCES OF TROPICAL CYCLONE INFORMATION
The purpose of this section is to list some websites where many and
varied types of tropical cyclone information are archived. Many readers
will know about these already, but for the benefit of those who don't,
I wanted to include them. After a couple of months, I will move this
note to the ending section of the summary.
(1) Aircraft Reconnaissance Information
---------------------------------------
Various types of messages from reconnaissance aircraft may be
retrieved from the following FTP site:
<ftp://ftp.nhc.noaa.gov/pub/products/nhc/recon/>
Information regarding how to interpret the coded reconnaissance
messages may be found at the following URL:
<http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/reconlist.shtml>
Links are also included to websites with further information about the
U. S. Air Force 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron and the NOAA Air-
craft Operations Center.
(2) Archived Advisories
-----------------------
All the advisory products (public advisories, forecast/advisories,
strike probabilities, discussions, various graphics) issued by TPC/NHC
are archived on TPC's website. For the current year (using 2004 as an
example), the archived products can be found at:
<http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2004/index.shtml>
Links to tropical products archives for earlier years are available at
the following URL:
<http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pastall.shtml>
I am not aware at the moment of any other TCWC which archives all
its tropical cyclone warning/advisory products for public access, but
if I learn of any, I will add them to this list.
(3) Satellite Imagery
---------------------
Satellite images of tropical cyclones in various sensor bands are
available on the NRL Monterrey and University of Wisconsin websites,
courtesy of Jeff Hawkins and Chris Velden and their associates. The
links are:
<http://www.nrlmry.navy.mil/tc_pages/tc_home.html>
<http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/tropic/tropic.html>
On the NRL site, the link to past years can be found in the upper left
corner of the screen. For the CIMSS site, a link to data archives is
located in the lower left portion of the screen.
I'm sure there are other sites with available imagery available, and
as I learn of them, I will add the links to this list.
*************************************************************************
AUGUST HIGHLIGHTS
--> Destructive hurricane strikes southwestern Florida communities
--> Large severe hurricane strikes Bahamas and southeastern Florida
--> China struck by two typhoons--one very deadly
--> Two intense typhoons pass through Marianas en route to Japan
--> Typhoon grazes southeastern South Korea
*************************************************************************
***** Feature of the Month for August *****
NOTE!!! The Feature of the Month for August will be included in the
third installment of the August summary.
*************************************************************************
ACTIVITY BY BASINS
ATLANTIC (ATL) - North Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico
Activity for August: 4 tropical storms
1 hurricane
3 intense hurricanes
Sources of Information
----------------------
Most of the information presented below was obtained from the
various tropical cyclone products issued by the Tropical Prediction
Center/National Hurricane Center (TPC/NHC) in Miami, Florida:
discussions, public advisories, forecast/advisories, tropical weather
outlooks, special tropical disturbance statements, etc. Some
additional information may have been gleaned from the monthly
summaries prepared by the hurricane specialists and available on
TPC/NHC's website. All references to sustained winds imply a
1-minute averaging period unless otherwise noted.
An interesting article discussing the atmospheric circulation
patterns which led to the incredibly active and destructive Atlantic
hurricane season, as well as information on the effects of individual
cyclones, can be found on CSU's atmospheric sciences website at the
following URL:
<http://tropical.atmos.colostate.edu/Forecasts/2004/oct2004/>
Atlantic Tropical Activity for August
-------------------------------------
Following a stormless June and July, tropical cyclone activity
exploded in August to produce the most active month of August on record.
The average statistics for August (based on 1950-2003) are: 2.7 NS,
1.5 H, and 0.6 IH with an NTC of 24%. During August, 2004, a record
eight tropical storms developed with four reaching hurricane intensity.
Three of the hurricanes became intense hurricanes (Category 3 or higher
on the Saffir/Simpson scale), and the NTC for August was a staggering
84%. And all of the cyclones except Hurricane Danielle had an impact on
land. Hurricane Alex passed a scant 10 miles off Cape Hatteras while
a Category 2 hurricane, and later reached Category 3 status north of the
38th parallel while moving northeastward over the warm Gulf Stream waters
south of the Canadian Maritimes. Tropical Storm Bonnie formed in the
Gulf of Mexico and made landfall near St. Marks, FL, while Hurricane
Charley was gathering steam in the Caribbean. Charley struck western
Cuba as a Category 3 hurricane, weakened slightly after crossing the
island, then rapidly intensified into a strong Category 4 hurricane
before making landfall near Punta Gorda and Port Charlotte, FL. The
storm crossed the Peninsula, maintaining hurricane intensity, and
exited near Jacksonville. Charley continued north-northeastward and
made a second U. S. landfall in South Carolina.
Hurricane Danielle formed in mid-month near the Cape Verdes but moved
northward over the eastern Atlantic, becoming an impressive Category 2
hurricane. Tropical Storm Earl formed at the same time as Danielle and
moved through the southern Windwards as a tropical storm, but lost its
circulation and was downgraded to a tropical wave in the southeastern
Caribbean. Earl's remnants continued westward, reaching the Eastern
Pacific several days later and ultimately redeveloping into Hurricane
Frank. Tropical Storms Gaston and Hermine were twins forming late in
the month along an old frontal boundary stretching eastward into the
Atlantic from the southeastern U. S. coast. Gaston formed near the
coast and struck South Carolina as a strong tropical storm near hurri-
cane intensity. Hermine formed from another LOW along the same frontal
trough west of Bermuda and moved northward, eventually reaching south-
eastern Massachusetts as a weak tropical storm.
Mighty Hurricane Frances formed on 25 August about midway between the
Lesser Antilles and Africa. Frances moved relentlessly on a west-
northwesterly track which carried it north of the Leeward Islands and
Puerto Rico as it became a large, severe Category 4 hurricane. Frances
slashed its way through the Bahamas, gradually weakening to Category 2
levels during the process. The storm made landfall in southeastern
Florida as a very large, slow-moving Category 2 hurricane--not "major"
by Saffir/Simpson standards, but still causing major damage as it crossed
the Peninsula. Frances emerged into the northeastern Gulf of Mexico and
made a final landfall as a tropical storm near St. Marks, FL.
A strong tropical wave moved off the west coast of Africa very late
in August and passed through the Cape Verde Islands on the 31st. The
system was quite well-organized at one point, and SAB assigned a Dvorak
classification of T2.5/2.5 at 31/1800 UTC. However, the convection
quickly began to diminish and the system was not classified as a
tropical depression at the time. The weak LOW persisted, however, and
over a week later, on 9 September, was briefly upgraded to tropical
depression status. (This system will be mentioned in the September
summary.)
Reports on all the August tropical storms and hurricanes will be
issued according to the schedule below. A special thanks to Kevin
Boyle for writing some of the Atlantic cyclone reports.
Part 1 - Alex, Bonnie
Part 2 - Charley, Danielle, Earl
Part 3 - none
Part 4 - Frances, Gaston, Hermine
HURRICANE ALEX
(TC-01)
31 July - 7 August
--------------------------------------
A. Storm Origins
----------------
The first tropical cyclone of what has turned out to be one of the
most active Atlantic seasons on record had its roots in an upper-level
LOW which interacted with a surface trough--a fairly common mode of
tropical cyclone formation in the subtropics. On the afternoon of
27 July an area of showers associated with a weak surface trough was
located about 435 nm east of the northwestern Bahamas. Over the next
couple of days the elongated trough, interacting with an upper-level LOW,
produced numerous showers and scattered thunderstorms over a wide area
extending eastward from the Bahamas several hundred miles. Convection
had become more concentrated by the morning of the 29th, and upper-level
winds were becoming a little more favorable for development.
Visible satellite pictures on the morning of 30 July indicated that a
LLCC was forming about 235 nm east-northeast of Freeport in the Bahamas.
A U. S. Air Force Reserves reconnaissance aircraft flew into the area
during the afternoon and found a broad circulation centered approximately
240 nm east of Cape Canaveral, Florida. Convection was still somewhat
disorganized but the environment appeared favorable for further develop-
ment. However, overnight convection diminished and upper-level winds
increased again, leading to a loss of organization. At 0930 UTC on the
31st the weak circulation was centered about 150 nm east of northern
Florida and was not well-organized. But during the morning hours the
downhill trend reversed and the LOW appeared to be gaining in organiza-
tion. A reconnaissance mission during the morning did not find a well-
defined surface circulation, but did report winds of 20-25 kts to the
east of the LOW, which was located about 175 nm east of St. Augustine
at 1530 UTC. During the afternoon the LOW continued to exhibit
increasing convective organization, and based on this plus a 30-kt
intensity estimate from TAFB, the first advisory on Tropical Depression
01 was issued at 2100 UTC. The depression's center was located about
150 nm south-southeast of Charleston, South Carolina, and drifting toward
the northwest at 8 kts.
B. Synoptic History
-------------------
A reconnaissance plane during the evening of the 31st could find no
center, but a QuikScat pass just before the evening advisory confirmed
that TD-01 consisted of a broad circulation with 20-25 kt winds. Strong
northeasterly flow was impinging on the depression, keeping the broad
center on the northern edge of the deeper convection. The MSW was upped
to 30 kts at 1500 UTC on 1 August based on reconnaissance FLWs of 33 and
36 kts and a visual surface estimate of 30 kts. Another flight early
in the afternoon found 41-kt winds at 300 m with a visual surface esti-
mate of 35 kts. On this basis, TD-01 was upgraded to Tropical Storm Alex
at 1800 UTC, located about 70 nm south-southeast of Charleston, SC, and
essentially stationary. There were signs that the circulation was
gradually getting better organized, although the aforementioned shear was
preventing the well-defined mid-level circulation noted in radar imagery
from aligning with any of the many low-level swirls that were continuing
to pop out on the north side of the convection.
Early on the morning of 2 August radar imagery indicated that the
core of Alex was becoming much better organized, and a reconnaissance
flight into the storm found that the CP had fallen to 992 mb and measured
peak 850-mb winds of 62 kts. A special advisory was issued at 1200 UTC,
upping the winds to 50 kts. The center was relocated to a position about
105 nm south-southeast of Charleston, SC, and drifting eastward. As the
upper-level shear pattern changed, so Alex's structure evolved with the
strong central convection shifting east of the center with a well-
developed band in the southeast quadrant. The drop in pressure leveled
off during the afternoon for a time, concurrent with the formation of a
20-mile wide eye that was open to the southeast. Later in the evening
another flight found that Alex had a 10-nm diameter eye with a surface
pressure of 987 mb and FLWs of 69 kts. Alex's MSW was upped to 60 kts in
the 03/0300 UTC advisory, based primarily on the central pressure. The
storm at this time was moving northeastward at 8 kts, but an approaching
mid-level trough over the Missouri River valley was forecast to dig a
little more southward before pushing eastward, an event which would
likely lead to a more south-southwesterly steering flow that would help
to pull Alex northward toward the North Carolina coast.
In an intermediate advisory at 03/0600 UTC, Alex was upgraded to the
first hurricane of the Atlantic season. Alex was then centered about
65 nm south-southeast of Wilmington, NC, moving northeastward at 8 kts.
A reconnaissance mission had found 850-mb winds of 81 kts along with a
CP of 983 mb. Afterward, the Wilmington and Newport WSR-88D radars had
shown 85-kt winds at around 2500 metres. The radar imagery revealed an
eyewall in constant flux--occasionally fully-closed and occasionally
open to the southwest, likely due to upper-level southwesterly flow
impinging on the cyclone. Alex's intensity took another jump, rather
unexpected, at 1500 UTC up to Category 2 status. The pressure had fallen
to 972 mb, and a reconnaissance aircraft found peak FLWs of 105 kts at
1135 UTC. Around 1700 UTC the center of Hurricane Alex passed only
10 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras, bringing sustained Category 1
hurricane winds to the Outer Banks. The maximum winds at the time were
85 kts, but the strongest winds were in the eastern semicircle--away from
the coast. The storm by this time was embedded in the deep-layer south-
westerly flow to the north of the subtropical ridge and was moving north-
eastward at 15 kts. By 0300 UTC on the 4th Alex was already 150 nm
east-northeast of Cape Hatteras. An evening reconnaissance flight had
found a peak FLW of 87 kts, so the MSW was decreased to 80 kts.
By 1500 UTC on 4 August Alex had reached a position about 350 nm
east-northeast of Cape Hatteras and was accelerating out to sea at about
17 kts. Dvorak satellite intensity estimates had come down a bit, but
Alex was still a healthy Category 1 hurricane with the MSW decreased to
only 75 kts. Six hours later it was obvious that Alex had
intensified once more. Based on a consensus of Dvorak estimates, the
MSW was raised to 90 kts, making Alex a Category 2 hurricane once more.
The storm was just south of the north wall of the Gulf Stream over SSTs
between 26C and 27C. But an even bigger surprise was in store. Alex
continued to intensify during the evening hours of 4 August with CI
numbers from TAFB and SAB reaching 102 kts and a 3-hour AODT average
of 105 kts. Other Data-T and ODT numbers also supported increasing the
MSW to 105 kts, making Alex the first intense hurricane (Category 3 or
higher on the Saffir/Simpson scale) of the season. Alex became the
strongest intense hurricane on record to develop north of the 38th
parallel, with Hurricane Ellen of 1973 coming in second at 100 kts. Alex
and Ellen are the only two known hurricanes to reach 100 kts at such a
high latitude. In the case of Alex, SSTs were running more than 2 Deg C
above average in the area. At the time of the 05/0300 UTC advisory Alex
was located south of Nova Scotia, or about 700 nm southwest of Cape Race,
Newfoundland, and moving east-northeastward at 22 kts.
Alex held on to its peak intensity for a period of 18 hours. Cloud
tops continued to cool during the morning of 5 August, reaching temp-
eratures of -65 to -75 C. By 1500 UTC cloud tops were beginning to
warm, but Dvorak classifications were unchanged at T5.5. Alex was then
located about 350 nm southwest of Cape Race, racing east-northeastward
at 30 kts. By afternoon the eye was becoming less distinct and cloud
top temperatures were continuing to warm as the hurricane began to move
over colder waters. The MSW was reduced to 90 kts at 2100 UTC, and
further to 75 kts at 06/0300 UTC. Data from a 05/2210 UTC SSM/I overpass
suggested that the LLCC was beginning to decouple from the mid and upper-
level circulations. Around 2200 UTC Alex's eye went almost directly over
Canadian buoy 44140, which reported a minimum SLP of 979.3 mb.
Deep convection decreased significantly during the early hours of the
6th of August, and by 0900 UTC was confined to a few clusters in the
eastern semicircle. The intensity was set to 65 kts based on a average
of satellite classifications and the rapid forward motion (45 kts). The
final NHC advisory was issued at 06/1500 UTC and placed the center of
Alex about 750 nm east of Cape Race. The MSW was reduced to 50 kts and
the cyclone was rapidly becoming extratropical as it raced over the
cold North Atlantic waters. By 0000 UTC on 7 August Alex's remnants
consisted of a 35-kt gale center located approximately 500 nm northeast
of the northwesternmost Azores. I received the following e-mail from
Kevin Boyle regarding the "afterlife" of Alex:
"Alex became a deep depression (975 mb) and has parked itself to the
west of the British Isles where it will remain throughout the coming
week. At present it is advecting a lot of warm, humid air and temp-
eratures failed to fall below 19 C (DP of 19 C) last night (night of
8 August). Bracknell surface charts indicate that the filling Alex will
cross Britain as a weakening feature towards the weekend. Torrential
downpours are expected throughout the week and there is a concern for
flooding in places, especially after the heavy rain and thunderstorms
at the end of last week."
C. Meteorological Observations
------------------------------
A NOAA buoy located near Frying Pan Shoals reported a wind gust of
43 kts shortly after midnight on 3 August. Later the buoy reported
sustained winds of 33 kts, gusting to 41 kts. Around midday on the
3rd there was an unofficial report of sustained winds to 43 kts with
a peak gust of 73 kts from Okracoke Island. Another unofficial report
was received from Hatteras Village of sustained winds to 57 kts, gusting
to 75 kts.
Unofficial sustained winds of 63 kts and a peak gust of 89 kts were
reported from near Cape Hatteras by two private firms, Weatherflow, Inc.
and the Hurricane Intercept Research Team, respectively. Additionally,
Weatherflow, Inc. measured a 5-min avg wind of 65 kts at Avon Pier around
1735 UTC.
D. Casualties and Damage
------------------------
There were no known casualties associated with Hurricane Alex.
Estimates place the damage in the Outer Banks at around $2.5 million.
(Report written by Gary Padgett)
TROPICAL STORM BONNIE
(TC-02)
3 - 14 August
-----------------------------------------
A. Storm Origins
----------------
Shower activity associated with a tropical wave which had moved off
the western African coast in late July began to show signs of increased
organization on the morning of 31 July several hundred miles southwest
of the Cape Verde Islands. Late in the afternoon the main action was
located about 520 nm west-southwest of the islands and propagating
westward at 17 kts. The STWO from TPC/NHC indicated that some slow
development was possible. Subsequent days saw the wave continue to
move rather rapidly across the tropical Atlantic, gradually increasing
in organization. By early morning on 3 August the wave had reached a
point about 460 nm east of the Windward Islands. Organization had
improved to the point that advisories were initiated on Tropical
Depression 02 at 03/1500 UTC. The depression's center was estimated to
be about 400 nm east of the Lesser Antilles and was moving westward
at 18 kts. The initial MSW was estimated at 25 kts. There was some
question as to whether the rapidly moving system had a closed surface
circulation, but the case for this was made based on an analysis of
QuikScat data.
B. Synoptic History
-------------------
The depression continued rapidly westward toward the Windward Islands.
The center was located about 40 nm north-northwest of Barbados at 0600
UTC on 4 August and just east of St. Lucia three hours later. Whether
or not there was actually a closed LLCC continued to be a matter of
uncertainty. The MSW, initially set at 25 kts, was upped to 30 kts at
04/0300 UTC based on CI estimates of 35 and 30 kts from TAFB and SAB,
respectively, plus some near 30-kt uncontaminated wind vectors from a
03/2208 UTC QuikScat overpass. By early morning of the 4th convection
had become more concentrated, but surface pressures suggested that there
was not a closed circulation. A reconnaissance plane reached the area
during the morning and found a very sharp wind shift and some south-
southwesterly winds at 760 m, but was not able to close off a circu-
lation. Since most dynamical model guidance was indicating that the
system would soon slow down, it was carried as a tropical depression in
the 04/1500 UTC advisory. However, by afternoon the convection had
become elongated in an east-west direction and less concentrated, so
TD-02 was downgraded to a tropical wave at 2100 UTC about 330 nm south-
southeast of San Juan, Puerto Rico.
No sooner had TD-02 been downgraded than it looked like it might be
about to stage a comeback. During the evening hours of 4 August
convection became more concentrated about 150 nm east of Bonaire, and
the wave was moving slower at about 15 kts, the slower movement making
reformation of a surface LOW possible. However, no new circulation
formed and by the next day upper-level winds had become less favorable
for development. Over the next few days the remnant tropical wave
continued rapidly westward across the Caribbean, generating showers
and thunderstorms over a wide area in the Greater Antilles and the
central and western Caribbean Sea. On the 7th the system appeared
much weaker and wasn't even mentioned in the 07/2130 UTC STWO. However,
by the afternoon of the 8th disturbed weather had become better organized
over the extreme northwestern Caribbean and some potential for develop-
ment was noted in the afternoon STWO.
During the evening a tight vortex spun up over the Yucatan Channel,
as seen in radar imagery. Likely this feature was at mid-levels, but was
a harbinger of things to come. By early morning of 9 August the system
had entered the Gulf of Mexico and was located about 65 nm north of
Cancun. A reconnaissance plane visited the area around midday and found
a very small surface circulation with a 450-m FLW of 56 kts. Advisories
were re-initiated on the system, which was christened Tropical Storm
Bonnie, at 2100 UTC with the center located about 355 nm south of the
mouth of the Mississippi River. The initial warning intensity was set
at 40 kts, and the lowest CP reported by the aircraft was 1007 mb. Winds
were increased to 45 kts at 10/0300 UTC after an evening reconnaissance
mission found a 7-nm diameter closed eyewall. However, the eyewall soon
deteriorated somewhat and expanded to 17 nm. It is unusual to see a
closed eyewall in a storm of less than hurricane intensity.
Bonnie's initial northwesterly motion became northerly on the 10th as
a shortwave trough moving into the northwestern Gulf of Mexico weakened
the ridge to the north. The intensity reached a temporary peak of 50
kts at 1500 UTC after a dropsonde reported 70-kt winds a couple hundred
feet above the surface with surface winds of 51 kts. However, central
convection diminished somewhat during the afternoon and by 11/0300 UTC
the MSW had been lowered to 40 kts. Bonnie's intensity fluctuated up
and down several times during its 3-day trek across the Gulf of Mexico--
something rather common in very small tropical cyclones. At 2100 UTC
on 10 August Bonnie was centered about 275 nm south of the Mississippi
River's mouth, moving slowly north at 5 kts. Gales extended outward
from the center 40 nm in the southern quadrants and only 25 nm to the
north.
Bonnie continued to experience ups and downs on 11 August. During
the morning the cyclone became much better organized with a burst of
convection with cloud tops as cold as -83 C forming over the center.
Buoy 42001, located about 45 nm northeast of Bonnie's center, reported
a 10-min avg wind of 41 kts with a gust to 52 kts. Gradient wind
computations using a 10-mb pressure difference between the center and
the buoy indicated that 50-kt winds were possible. Based on this, the
1500 UTC advisory MSW was conservatively increased to 45 kts. A later
report from the buoy reported a gust to 66 kts, so the MSW was increased
to 55 kts in the 1800 UTC intermediate advisory. In response to an
unseasonably strong deep-layer trough over the central U. S., by 1800
UTC Bonnie had made the expected sharp turn to the northeast. The storm
was then located about 180 nm south of the mouth of the Mississippi and
moving northeast at about 10 kts. After the tremendous burst of deep
convection observed during the morning, Bonnie's convection leveled off.
During the afternoon the tight inner wind core which had been present for
the past three days collapsed, leaving the maximum winds in a band of
convection removed from the center. An evening reconnaissance flight
found peak FLWs of only 30 kts, even though CI estimates were 45 and
55 kts. Since it was possible that the aircraft had not sampled the
strongest winds, the MSW was reduced to only 50 kts at 12/0300 UTC,
although the forecaster commented that this might be generous.
Bonnie accelerated toward the northeast as the morning of 12 August
progressed. Winds were decreased to 45 kts at 0900 UTC, but were upped
slightly to 50 kts in the 1200 UTC intermediate advisory. Bonnie was
then centered only about 70 nm southwest of Apalachicola, FL, and was
moving northeastward at about 20 kts. By 1500 UTC Bonnie was weakening
once more and the cloud pattern was becoming elongated, suggesting that
extratropical transition was underway. The center of Bonnie hugged
the coast from near Apalachicola east-northeastward to near the head of
Apalachee Bay where the center finally made landfall. At 1800 UTC the
center of the weakening cyclone was located inland about 50 km south-
east of Tallahassee, FL, moving toward the east-northeast at 24 kts.
Maximum winds had decreased to 35 kts, and at 2100 UTC Bonnie was down-
graded to a depression. The cloud pattern was by then becoming
associated with a frontal system. This was the final advisory package
issued by NHC as the responsibility for issuing advisories was handed
over to HPC. Bonnie's remnants sped northeastward across the coastal
plain of Georgia and the Carolinas and by the afternoon of the 13th
had moved out to sea off the coast of Virginia. By 14/0000 UTC the
LOW was off the New England coast, speeding north-northeastward, and
apparently was soon absorbed by an extratropical LOW to the north.
C. Meteorological Observations
------------------------------
While Bonnie was over the Gulf of Mexico, ship H3GQ reported 40-kt
southwest winds 40 nm south of the center at 1800 UTC on 10 August. On
the morning of the 12th, the center of Bonnie passed very near NOAA buoy
42039, which reported gusts to 45 kts with a minimum SLP of 1002.7 mb.
The following rainfall observations were gleaned from the HPC storm
summaries. Perry, FL, had a storm total of 79 mm, while Athens and
Augusta, GA, both netted 53 mm in association with Bonnie. During the
six hours ending at 0600 UTC on 13 August, Hunter, GA, and North Myrtle
Beach, SC, recorded 72 mm and 75 mm, respectively.
The only location recording a 24-hour total exceeding 100 mm was
North Myrtle Beach, SC, which measured 108 mm in the 24 hours ending
at 1200 UTC on the 13th. A little further north, Newport, NC, recorded
a storm total of 65 mm, and Cherry Point, NC, measured 75 mm in the
30-hour period ending at 13/1800 UTC.
NOTE: More detailed rainfall information can be found in the HPC
advisories on Bonnie, which are archived on HPC's website:
<http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/>
C. Damage and Casualties
------------------------
Damage from Tropical Storm Bonnie was minimal. The storm was
responsible for three deaths in North Carolina due to tornadoes spawned
by the weakening cyclone.
(Report written by Gary Padgett)
*************************************************************************
NORTHEAST PACIFIC (NEP) - North Pacific Ocean East of Longitude 180
Activity for August: 1 tropical depression
3 tropical storms **
1 hurricane
** - one of these storms (Howard) became a hurricane and intense
hurricane in early September
Sources of Information
----------------------
Most of the information presented below was obtained from the
various tropical cyclone products issued by the Tropical Prediction
Center/National Hurricane Center (TPC/NHC) in Miami, Florida (or the
Central Pacific Hurricane Center (CPHC) in Honolulu, Hawaii, for
locations west of longitude 140W): discussions, public advisories,
forecast/advisories, tropical weather outlooks, special tropical
disturbance statements, etc. Some additional information may have
been gleaned from the monthly summaries prepared by the hurricane
specialists and available on TPC/NHC's website. All references to
sustained winds imply a 1-minute averaging period unless otherwise
noted.
Northeast Pacific Tropical Activity for August
----------------------------------------------
Tropical cyclone activity was near normal in the Eastern North Pacific
during August. August averages for the period 1971-2003 are about 4 NS,
2 H, and one IH. August, 2004, produced four NS but only one hurricane;
however, the final storm, Howard, became a Category 4 hurricane during
the early days of September. Estelle formed rather far west from the
same tropical wave which had earlier spawned Atlantic Hurricane Charley
and moved into the Central North Pacific. The other three storms formed
much nearer the Mexican coast but moved generally northwestward away
from the mainland with only minimal effects felt along the coastline.
Reports on all the August tropical storms and hurricanes will be
issued according to the schedule below. A special thanks to John
Wallace and Kevin Boyle for writing most of the NEP cyclone reports.
Part 1 - none
Part 2 - none
Part 3 - Estelle, Frank (including TD-09E)
Part 4 - Georgette, Howard
*************************************************************************
NORTHWEST PACIFIC (NWP) - North Pacific Ocean West of Longitude 180
Activity for August: 4 tropical depressions **
3 tropical storms ++
4 typhoons
2 super typhoons
** - all of these were classified as tropical depressions by JMA only
++ - one of these (Malou/15W) was classified as a tropical storm by
several of the Asian TCWCs, but not by JTWC, while another (21W)
was classified as a tropical storm by JTWC only
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 data taken from synoptic observations around the Northwest
Pacific basin. 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 August
----------------------------------------------
After a rather quiet July, which had come on the heels of a very
active June, the tropics of the Western North Pacific exploded to
produce a very active August. I do not yet have monthly statistics
available for the NWP basin, but if August, 2004, was not the most
active August on record there, it certainly must rank in the Top Five.
Nine systems reached tropical storm intensity, taking into account the
classifications from all the warning agencies. Six of these reached
typhoon intensity and two became super typhoons per JTWC's analysis.
All but one of the six typhoons struck populated areas in the NWP
basin:
Meranti - remained at sea
Rananim - China
Megi - South Korea
Chaba - Marianas, Japan
Aere - Taiwan, China
Songda - Marianas, Okinawa, Japan
Four systems were mentioned as tropical depressions in the High Seas
bulletins issued by JMA. The first of these was carried as a 30-kt
depression on 6 and 7 August. At 06/0600 UTC it was located roughly
600 nm east-southeast of Iwo Jima. The system moved generally in a
northeasterly direction and had weakened by 1200 UTC on the 7th, being
then located about 600 nm west-northwest of Wake Island. JTWC did
carry this system in their STWOs, and at one point assigned a fair
potential for development. A track, based on JMA's bulletins, was
included for this system in the companion August cyclone tracks file.
The remaining three JMA depressions were listed only in the Summary
portion of the High Seas bulletins. One weak circulation was located
in the vicinity of 20N/141E on 8 August and remained quasi-stationary.
Another depression, near 18N/133E, was mentioned only once, at 13/1200
UTC. The final of the three occurred on 27 and 28 August, being quasi-
stationary just west of the International Dateline near 10N/178E. JTWC
did give this system a fair development potential at one point. No
tracks were included for any of these weaker JMA depressions in the
August tracks file.
Reports on all the August tropical storms and typhoons will be issued
according to the schedule below. A special to Kevin Boyle for writing
several of the NWP cyclone reports, and to Huang Chunliang for sending
much information regarding meteorological observations as well as damage
and casualty figures.
Part 1 - Meranti, Malou, Rananim/Karen
Part 2 - Malakas, Megi/Lawin
Part 3 - Chaba, Aere/Marce
Part 4 - 21W, Songda/Nina
TYPHOON MERANTI
(TC-14W / TY 0412)
3 - 9 August
--------------------------------------
Meranti: contributed by Malaysia, is a type of tree, tall and big
which yields soft wood and is often used as a building
material
A. Storm Origins
----------------
The first NWP tropical cyclone of a very active August had its
beginnings with an area of convection which formed on the 2nd and was
located approximately 80 nm southwest of Wake Island at 0600 UTC.
Animated multi-spectral imagery revealed a weak LLCC with little deep
convection while a 200-mb analysis indicated moderate diffluence over the
area and weak to moderate vertical shear. An interim STWO was issued
at 2100 UTC relocating the disturbance 2 degrees to the south to a point
about 225 nm south-southwest of Wake Island. Deep convection was
increasing and the potential for further development was upgraded to
fair. JTWC issued a TCFA at 03/0230 UTC, placing the center 195 nm
south-southwest of Wake Island. Deep convection was increasing over the
LLCC, which was located in the divergent quadrant of a TUTT cell to the
northwest, and an upper-level analysis indicated moderate diffluence in
the equatorward direction and continued weak to moderate vertical shear.
B. Synoptic History
-------------------
The system continued moving slowly northward and the first JTWC
warning on Tropical Depression 14W was issued at 1800 UTC with 30-kt
winds. The system was then passing only about 25-35 nm west of Wake
Island and was being steered poleward along the western periphery of
a near-equatorial mid-level ridge located to the east of the depression.
Also at 1800 UTC, JMA upgraded the system to a 30-kt depression. JTWC
upgraded TD-14W to tropical storm status on the second warning, issued
at 04/0000 UTC, when the cyclone was centered approximately 55 nm north-
west of Wake Island. Initially moving slowly north-northwestward, by
0600 UTC the tropical storm was scooting northward at 19 kts. This
rapid motion continued until 1800 UTC, when the depression had returned
to a slower northwestward motion at 9 kts. The cyclone acquired the name
Meranti at 04/1200 UTC when JMA upgraded it to tropical storm status.
Meranti remained a minimal tropical storm on the 4th, but by 0000 UTC on
the 5th the system was beginning to intensify--both JMA and JTWC were
estimating the MSW at 45 kts. The storm was then centered approximately
900 nm west of Midway Island, and had begun tracking north-northeastward.
Tropical Storm Meranti continued to quickly intensify, and at 05/1200
UTC was upgraded to typhoon status by both JMA and JTWC, based on CI
estimates of 65 and 77 kts. Meranti was by then tracking northeastward
at 11 kts, and a basic easterly motion was forecast to continue as the
near-equatorial ridge built to the south, allowing the cyclone to track
along the northern periphery of the ridge. Typhoon Meranti reached its
peak intensity of 90 kts (75 kts 10-min avg per JMA) at 05/1800 UTC when
located about 800 nm west of Midway Island. Satellite CI intensity
estimates were 90 kts, and a 08/1454 UTC TRMM image depicted a well-
organized system with a small, ragged eye. Meranti's intensification
had been aided by an increase in the poleward outflow channel. The
minimum CP estimated by JMA was 960 mb, and at its peak, gales covered
an area approximately 170 nm in diameter.
Typhoon Meranti maintained its peak intensity for 18 hours. By 0600
UTC on 6 August satellite imagery revealed that the eye was no longer
distinct, and microwave and water vapor imagery indicated that dry air
was being entrained into the system from the west. The MSW was reduced
to 80 kts at 1200 UTC, based on CI estimates ranging from 55 to 90 kts,
and at 1800 UTC the MSW was drastically reduced to 50 kts with satellite
CI estimates then ranging from 45 to 65 kts. The cyclone had shown a
rapid decrease in deep convection over the past few hours with the LLCC
becoming exposed to the southwest of the deepest convection. (JMA also
downgraded Meranti to a tropical storm at 1800 UTC, estimating the 10-min
avg MSW at 60 kts.) The cyclone was then located roughly 670 nm west-
northwest of Midway Island, moving northeastward at 14 kts.
Meranti continued tracking northeastward along the periphery of a mid-
level steering ridge as it retreated eastward. The storm underwent a
slight re-intensification to 60 kts at 07/0000 UTC due to enhanced out-
flow into an upper-level LOW located to the southeast. But after that
it was downhill all the way. The MSW dropped to 55 kts at 07/0600 UTC
and to 45 kts at 1800 UTC. The system was experiencing shear with a
partially-exposed LLCC southwest of the deep convection, and there was
also evidence that extratropical transition was beginning. At 1800 UTC
the center of Meranti was located approximately 700 nm northwest of
Midway Island, and had turned to the north due to the approach of a major
shortwave trough. JTWC issued the final warning on Meranti at 0600 UTC
on 8 August, placing the center about 800 nm northwest of Midway Island.
The MSW was estimated at 40 kts, and the system was deemed to have
completed extratropical transition. Ever since the downgrade of Meranti
from typhoon status on the 6th, JMA's equivalent 1-min avg MSW had been
running higher than JTWC's, and JMA maintained Meranti as a tropical
cyclone for another 24 hours following JTWC's final warning, declaring
the system extratropical at 0600 UTC on 9 August. However, Meranti's
remnants quickly weakened--by 1800 UTC consisting of only a 25-kt LOW
about 930 nm northwest of Midway Island, or several hundred miles south
of the southwestern Aleutian Islands.
C. Damage and Casualties
------------------------
No damage or casualties are known to have resulted from Typhoon
Meranti.
(Report written by Gary Padgett)
TROPICAL STORM MALOU
(TC-15W / TS 0411)
4 - 6 August
----------------------------------------
Malou: contributed by Macau, China, is the name for 'agate'--a very
hard stone with bands of colour, and is often used for
ornaments and souvenirs
A. Storm History
----------------
At 0600 UTC on 31 July, JTWC released a STWO on a limited area of
convection which had persisted for 12 hours approximately 190 nm north
of Guam. The potential for development was assessed as poor. Multi-
spectral imagery revealed a large, well-defined LLCC in association with
the convection. A day passed with little to write about, but at 02/0600
UTC JTWC upgraded the development potential to fair based on improved
organization. However, multi-spectral imagery depicted a partially-
exposed system with cycling deep convection to the east of the LLCC.
The 03/0300 UTC STWO demoted the suspect area back to poor status as a
result of the convection decreasing markedly over the poorly-defined
LLCC. Upper-level analysis of UW/CIMSS satellite-derived winds showed
that the LLCC had entered a region of confluent flow from the southeast
and increased vertical shear. The shear later eased and convection
increased over the centre, prompting JTWC to upgrade the development
potential back up to fair. At 03/2330 UTC a TCFA was issued and the
first warning on Tropical Depression 15W followed at 04/0000 UTC.
The first warning placed the newly-formed depression approximately
420 nm southeast of Iwakuni, Japan, and moving northwestward at 21 kts.
This rapid movement, southwest of the low-to mid-level ridge, was
expected to take the system inland over Japan within 24 hours of
inception. As a result Tropical Depression 15W was not expected to
intensify further. Also, the environment was becoming less supportive
of tropical cyclone maintenance. By 04/1200 UTC Tropical Depression
15w was only 70 nm south-southwest of Kyoto, Japan. The system had
been named by JMA, who considered TD-15W a tropical storm and
accordingly assigned the international codename Malou. The peak 10-min
MSW reached 40 kts per JMA warnings at 04/0600 UTC and this intensity
was carried through the next bulletin at 04/1200 UTC. The agency then
downgraded Malou to depression status at 05/0000 UTC.
Tropical Storm Malou made landfall over Japan between 1800 UTC on
4 August and 05/0000 UTC. By 0000 UTC 5 August it was located over the
Sea of Japan and, having completed recurvature, was moving north-
northeastward at 21 kts. The system had lost most of its organization
during its transit across Japan, and JTWC called it a day at 05/0600 UTC
on the now extratropical Malou which was then centred 275 nm northwest
of Tokyo, Japan. The remnants of the former tropical cyclone then
tracked across northern Honshu on 6 August and into the North Pacific
before losing its identity late on the 7th.
Editor's Note: The recording of sustained winds at or exceeding gale
force by two stations at sea level strongly suggests that Malou was
indeed a tropical storm at landfall in Japan. See Section B below.
No reports of fatalities or significant damages were received.
B. Meteorological Observations
------------------------------
The following observations from Japan were compiled and sent by
Huang Chunliang. A special thanks to Chunliang for the information.
(1) Landfalls (based on the JMA warnings)
=========================================
1. Typhoon 0411 (MALOU) made first landfall near Anan City, Tokushima
Prefecture around 04/1330 UTC with a MSW of 40 kts and a CP of 994 hPa.
2. Typhoon 0411 (MALOU) made second landfall near Aioi City, Hyogo
Prefecture around 04/1600 UTC with a MSW of 40 kts and a CP of 996 hPa.
(2) Rains
=========
1. The most torrential hourly rain during the storm was recorded in
Miyagawa, Mie, which reported a record-breaking amount of 101 mm during
the 1-hr period ending at 05/0110 UTC.
2. The most significant storm totals [03/1500-05/0700 UTC] included:
Kamikitayama, Nara (731 mm); Miyagawa, Mie (589 mm); Mt. Hidegatake,
Nara (571 mm); etc.
(3) Winds
=========
1. Five stations reported sustained winds of gale force or higher during
the storm (values represent 10-min means):
Tomogashima, Wakayama (JMA65036, Alt 43m)----40.8 kts
Murotomisaki, Kochi (WMO47899, Alt 185m)----39.5 kts
Akashi, Hyogo (JMA63496, Alt 3m)----36.9 kts
Himezi, Hyogo (WMO47769, Alt 38m)----35.6 kts
Tsu, Mie (WMO47651, Alt 3m)----33.8 kts
2. The highest peak gust occurred in Himezi, Hyogo (WMO47769, Alt 38m),
which reported 58.9 kts.
(4) References (Japanese versions only)
=======================================
<http://www.data.kishou.go.jp>
<http://www.osaka-jma.go.jp>
(Report written by Kevin Boyle with significant contributions by
Huang Chunliang)
TYPHOON RANANIM
(TC-16W / TY 0413 / KAREN)
6 - 13 August
----------------------------------------------
Rananim: contributed by the Federated States of Micronesia, is the
Chuukese word for 'hello'
A. Introduction
---------------
Typhoon Rananim was the first of two tropical cyclones to strike
China during the month of August and became the worst storm to affect
that nation since Typhoon Winnie (1997).
B. Storm Origins
----------------
At 0600 UTC on 5 August JTWC issued a STWO for a persistent area of
deep convection located approximately 380 nm west-northwest of Guam.
Multi-spectral imagery and a QuikScat pass revealed a possible weak LLCC
with isolated, disorganized convection. Upper-level analysis indicated
that the suspect area was located in a region of weak to moderate wind
shear and moderate diffluence. The potential for development of a
significant tropical cyclone within the next 24 hours was poor. The LLCC
consolidated on the 6th and the deep convection became more persistent
and better organized. Based on this, JTWC upgraded the potential to
fair. This was superceded by a TCFA at 06/2100 UTC. At this time the
disturbance was relocated to a position 560 nm east of Manila in the
Philippines. A second relocation was required six hours later, placing
the centre nearly a degree south near 14.6N/130.7E. Warnings began on
Tropical Depression 16W at 07/1800 UTC with the system moving northward
at 10 kts approximately 590 nm south of Okinawa, Japan.
C. Synoptic History
-------------------
At 0000 UTC 8 August, the poorly-defined centre of Tropical Depression
16W was continuing northward along the northwestern periphery of the
near-equatorial ridge. A TUTT was located between that HIGH and the
subtropical ridge, and the prognostic reasoning issued at the time
indicated that after 24 hours the TUTT would move east, allowing the two
ridges to combine. This synoptic situation would result in a north to
northeast heading for the depression. QuikScat imagery indicated only
weak winds associated with the LLCC with the strongest winds to the
southwest. At 08/0600 UTC multi-spectral imagery indicated cycling
convection over the broad centre and also several weak low-level vortices
rotating around the main area of convection. The name Rananim was
assigned when JMA upgraded the system to a tropical storm at 08/1200 UTC.
JTWC also promoted TD-16W to tropical storm intensity at this time,
setting the MSW at 35 kts. Turning northeastward at 08/1800 UTC Rananim
strengthened a little to 40 kts with a recent TRMM pass showing a sheared
LLCC on the eastern edge of the deep convection.
Tropical Storm Rananim reverted back to its northward motion at 0000
UTC on 9 August, moving to a position 440 nm south-southeast of Okinawa,
Japan. At this time both QuikScat and microwave imagery showed a well-
defined LLCC which still lay on the eastern side of the deep convection.
The MSW increased during the day from 45 kts at 09/0000 UTC to 55 kts at
09/1800 UTC. The forward motion slowed for a time as Rananim turned
west-northwestward before picking up again to around 7-8 kts. As the
10th dawned, Rananim was close to typhoon strength. The storm had turned
towards the northwest and was located 290 nm south of Okinawa. Deep
convection had increased by this time in the northern semicircle while
the poleward outflow pattern had also improved. The MSW reached 65 kts
at 10/1200 UTC as the newly-upgraded typhoon continued northwestward
along the western periphery of the mid-level steering ridge to the
northeast.
By 0000 UTC on 11 August Typhoon Rananim had closed to within 195 nm
south-southwest of Okinawa, its strengthening phase bringing the MSW up
to 75 kts. Intensification continued, and satellite imagery showed the
development of a small, ragged eye at 11/0600 UTC. After the intensity
had reached 85 kts Rananim began to weaken slightly as the outflow became
more restricted, but intensification soon resumed again and the storm
reached its peak intensity of 90 kts at 12/0000 UTC as it began to
approach the Chinese coast.
At 0000 UTC on 12 August Rananim was moving north-northwestward
approximately 150 nm northeast of Taipei, Taiwan, at its peak intensity
of 90 kts. This was maintained as the storm passed north of the island,
its track altering to a west-northwesterly heading. This track
ultimately carried the cyclone inland at approximately 12/1300 UTC near
Wenling, Zhejiang Province, China. As Typhoon Rananim crossed the
Chinese coast it began to weaken. By the time the 1800 UTC warning was
issued the MSW had fallen to 70 kts. Further weakening occurred as the
storm progressed farther west into China. JTWC downgraded Rananim to a
60-kt tropical storm in their final warning at 13/0000 UTC, and JMA
issued their final warning on the system as a 30-kt tropical depression
at 13/0600 UTC. (See Section E below for more information on the inland
progress of the weakening depression.)
Editor's Note: JMA's peak 10-min avg MSW for Rananim was 80 kts, and
this was also the peak intensity estimated by the Central Weather Bureau
of Taiwan. However, HKO assigned a peak MSW of 85 kts, and NMCC
estimated Rananim's peak 10-min avg MSW at 90 kts--equivalent to a 1-min
avg MSW of 105 kts. Thus, NMCC and HKO considered Rananim a more intense
typhoon than did JTWC. PAGASA named this system Karen, and estimated
the peak intensity of Typhoon Karen at 75 kts during the time it was
within that agency's AOR. The cyclone had exited PAGASA's AOR by
11/1800 UTC, shortly before reaching its overall peak intensity. The
minimum CP estimated by JMA was 950 mb. At Rananim's peak intensity,
gales covered a zone 220 nm in diameter. (Rather nostalgic having a
typhoon named Karen in the NWP again, even if only an unofficial name.
Typhoon Karen of November, 1962, was one of the fiercest and most famous
typhoons to strike the island of Guam in modern times.)
D. Meteorological Observations from Japan
-----------------------------------------
The observations in this section were compiled and sent by Huang
Chunliang from data obtained at the following URL:
<http://www.okinawa-jma.go.jp>
(1) Wind and Pressure Observations (all dates 11 September)
===========================================================
Station Min SLP (hPa) Peak Sust Wind (kts) Peak Gust (kts)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Miyakojima 952.9 (1236 UTC) 50.9 (1050 UTC) 94.9 (1110 UTC)
Ishigakijima 975.3 (1410 UTC) 51.9 (2030 UTC) 82.0 (0721 UTC)
Iriomotejima 978.7 (1656 UTC) 46.1 (2030 UTC) 70.2 (2022 UTC)
Yonagunijima 983.5 (1618 UTC) 39.8 (1630 UTC) 68.6 (1618 UTC)
(2) Rainfall Measurements
=========================
Station WMO Number Alt (m) Storm Total (mm) Period (UTC)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Miyakojima 47927 40 229.0 (*) 09/1500 - 12/1500
Ishigakijima 47918 6 160.0 (#) 09/1500 - 12/1500
Iriomotejima 47917 9 146.5 09/1500 - 12/1500
Yonagunijima 47912 30 165.5 09/1500 - 12/1500
Notes:
(*) - 188.0 mm out of the total fell during the 24-hour period ending at
12/0000 UTC
(#) - 138.5 mm out of the total fell during the 24-hour period ending at
12/0000 UTC
E. Meteorological Observations from China
-----------------------------------------
(1) Landfall Observations
=========================
According to the NMCC warnings, Typhoon 0414 (Rananim) made landfall
in Shitang Town, Wenling City (a sub-city of Taizhou City), Zhejiang
Province around 12/1200 UTC with a MSW of 87 kts and a CP of 950 hPa.
Interestingly, the town of Shitang was exactly the place which saw the
first sunbeam of the new century in Mainland China on January 1, 2000.
After rampaging through southern Taizhou City, northern Wenzhou City,
northern Lishui City and Quzhou City, Rananim eventually departed from
Zhejiang Province and entered Jiangxi Province as a tropical storm around
13/0300 UTC. The storm didn't finish its 22-hour journey in northern
Jiangxi Province until 14/0100 UTC, by which time it had weakened to a
depression.
Tropical Depression Rananim then moved through southeastern Hubei
Province and northeastern Hunan Province, where it finally dissipated as
a significant tropical cyclone.
(2) Rainfall Observations
=========================
(a) Zhejiang Province
+++++++++++++++++++++
During the 72-hour period ending at 14/0000 UTC, rains > 200 mm were
recorded at 35 weather stations, among which 14 stations reported rains
> 300 mm with Shabu (located in Huangyan District, Taizhou City), Zhuxi
(located in Xianju County, Taizhou City) and Wugen (located in Wenling
City--a sub-city of Taizhou City) ranking the top three and reporting
454 mm, 453 mm and 436 mm, respectively. However, it should be noted
that it was a hydrological station that reported the most torrential rain
during the typhoon--Futou, Yueqing City (a sub-city of Wenzhou City)
recorded a 24-hour accumulation of 703.5 mm, which turned out to be a
new record for Zhejiang Province's daily rainfall amounts.
(b) Jiangxi Province
++++++++++++++++++++
During the 60-hour period ending at 15/0000 UTC, rains > 100 mm were
recorded in 39 counties/cities, among which Lushan, Yongxiu, Xinjian,
Jinxian, Dongxiang, Fengcheng and Yujiang reported rains > 200 mm with
Lushan reporting the highest amount of 268 mm (200 mm out of this total
fell during the 24-hour period ending at 14/0000 UTC).
(c) Hunan Province
++++++++++++++++++
Rains > 100 mm were recorded at 9 stations during the 24-hour period
ending at 15/0000 UTC with Qiyang County reporting the highest amount of
120.6 mm.
(d) Taiwan Region
+++++++++++++++++
Neuchusan, Hsinchu County, reported the highest storm total of 345 mm
during the 35-hour period ending at 12/0300 UTC.
(e) Other Provinces
+++++++++++++++++++
Some of the stations located in Fujian, Hubei, Henan, Anhui and
Jiangsu also reported torrential rains during the typhoon.
(3) Wind Observations
=====================
Typhoon-force winds were reported in the coastal region of Zhejiang
Province with gusts exceeding 78 kts being recorded by 11 stations, among
which Dachen Dao (WMO 58666, 28.45E/121.88, Alt 84 m) reported the
highest gusts, topping 114.1 kts--a new record for the station--at
12/0721 UTC. Other significant gust observations include: Shamen,
Wenling City--104.0 kts, and Sanjiaotang, Sanmen County--90.2 kts.
Most areas of Shanghai Municipality reported peak gusts of Beaufort
Force 7 to 9 during the storm.
F. Damage and Casualties
------------------------
Over 18,000,000 residents in Mainland China were affected by the
typhoon. Official statistics indicated that Typhoon Rananim had killed
168 people and caused 20.1 billion yuan of direct economic losses in the
mainland.
In Zhejiang Province Typhoon Rananim killed at least 164 people
(falling houses killed 109; landslides claimed 28 lives; another 27 died
in flooding or other accidents caused by the storm) with 24 still
missing. Also, more than 1800 people were injured in the typhoon.
Direct economic losses in the province were estimated at 18.1 billion
yuan (2.2 billion US dollars). Official statistics indicated that the
typhoon affected 765 towns of 75 counties/cities/districts in the
province, where 64,300 houses were toppled, 55,000 head of livestock were
killed and the infrastructure destroyed. The typhoon also destroyed
1,163 kilometers of roads, damaged many embankments and water conservancy
facilities and cut off power supplies and communication. Some 467,900
people were evacuated and more than 9,900 ships were called back before
the catastrophe.
Additional articles on the effects of Typhoon Rananim in China may be
found at the following URL:
<http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/vLND>
G. Historical Note
------------------
The China Meteorological Administration (CMA) has evaluated Typhoon
Rananim <NMC 0414> as the strongest landfalling typhoon for the Chinese
Mainland since Typhoon Sally <NMC 9615> made landfall in Wuchuan,
Guangdong Province on September 9, 1996, and the most intense for
Zhejiang Province since Typhoon Wanda (no number was assigned by NMC,
which did not begin to number tropical storms until 1959) made landfall
in Xiangshan, Zhejiang Province on August 1, 1956.
(Report written by Kevin Boyle with significant contributions by
Huang Chunliang)
*************************************************************************
NORTH INDIAN OCEAN (NIO) - Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea
Activity for August: No tropical cyclones
*************************************************************************
SOUTHWEST INDIAN OCEAN (SWI) - South Indian Ocean West of Longitude 90E
Activity for August: 1 tropical depression
Southwest Indian Ocean Tropical Activity for August
---------------------------------------------------
The 2004-2005 Southern Hemisphere season got off to an early start
with the formation of a tropical depression (designated as Tropical
Depression 01) by Meteo France La Reunion. This system formed just
west of 90E and subsequently moved southeastward into Perth's AOR where
it became Tropical Cyclone Phoebe on 2 September (TC-01S per JTWC).
Since Phoebe became a named cyclone in September, it will be covered
in next month's summary.
*************************************************************************
NORTHWEST AUSTRALIA/SOUTHEAST INDIAN OCEAN (AUW) - From 90E to 135E
Activity for August: No tropical cyclones
*************************************************************************
NORTHEAST AUSTRALIA/CORAL SEA (AUE) - From 135E to 160E
Activity for August: No tropical cyclones
*************************************************************************
SOUTH PACIFIC (SPA) - South Pacific Ocean East of Longitude 160E
Activity for August: 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 August, 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 2003 (2002-2003 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 2003 Atlantic and Eastern North Pacific
tropical cyclones; also, storm reports for all the 2003 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
John Wallace (Assistance with Eastern North Pacific)
E-mail: dosidicus@aol.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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