MONTHLY GLOBAL TROPICAL CYCLONE SUMMARY
JANUARY, 2006
Second 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.)
SPECIAL NOTE: The January summary is being issued in two installments.
The first covered all the Northern Hemisphere basins, plus the South
Indian Ocean and Northwestern Australia. The second installment covers
Northeastern Australia and the South Pacific Ocean.
*************************************************************************
JANUARY HIGHLIGHTS
--> Final Atlantic tropical storm of 2005 roams central Atlantic waters
in early January
--> First North Indian Ocean tropical cyclone of 2006 forms
--> Intense tropical cyclone forms in Mozambique Channel
--> Two cyclones form off Northwestern Australia while three cyclones
form in South Pacific
*************************************************************************
ACTIVITY BY BASINS
ATLANTIC (ATL) - North Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico
Activity for January: 1 tropical storm **
** - system actually formed in late December
NOTE!!! - The Atlantic basin was covered in the first installment of
the January summary.
*************************************************************************
NORTHEAST PACIFIC (NEP) - North Pacific Ocean East of Longitude 180
Activity for January: No tropical cyclones
*************************************************************************
NORTHWEST PACIFIC (NWP) - North Pacific Ocean West of Longitude 180
Activity for January: 1 tropical depression **
** - not treated as a tropical depression by JTWC
NOTE!!! - The Northwest Pacific basin was covered in the first
installment of the January summary.
*************************************************************************
NORTH INDIAN OCEAN (NIO) - Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea
Activity for January: 1 tropical cyclone of gale intensity **
** - classified as a deep depression by IMD
NOTE!!! - The North Indian Ocean basin was covered in the first
installment of the January summary.
*************************************************************************
SOUTHWEST INDIAN OCEAN (SWI) - South Indian Ocean West of Longitude 90E
Activity for January: 1 tropical disturbance
1 intense tropical cyclone
NOTE!!! - The Southwest Indian Ocean basin was covered in the first
installment of the January summary.
*************************************************************************
NORTHWEST AUSTRALIA/SOUTHEAST INDIAN OCEAN (AUW) - From 90E to 135E
Activity for January: 2 severe tropical cyclones
NOTE!!! - The Northwest Australia/Southeast Indian Ocean basin was
covered in the first installment of the January summary.
*************************************************************************
NORTHEAST AUSTRALIA/CORAL SEA (AUE) - From 135E to 160E
Activity for January: 1 severe tropical cyclone
1 over land monsoon LOW
Sources of Information
----------------------
The primary sources of tracking and intensity information for
Northeast Australia/Coral Sea tropical cyclones are the warnings
and advices issued by the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centres at
Brisbane, Queensland, and Darwin, Northern Territory, and on very
infrequent occasions, by the centre at Port Moresby, Papua New
Guinea. References to sustained winds imply a 10-minute averaging
period unless otherwise stated.
In the companion tropical cyclone tracks file, I occasionally
annotate positions from warnings issued by the Joint Typhoon Warning
Center (JTWC) of the U. S. Air Force and Navy, located at Pearl
Harbor, Hawaii, when they differ from the Australian centres' coor-
dinates by usually 40-50 nm or more. The JTWC warnings are also the
source of the 1-minute average maximum sustained wind values included
in the tracks file. Additionally, information describing details of
satellite imagery and atmospheric circulation features included in
the narratives is often gleaned from the JTWC warnings.
For the portion of Tropical Cyclone Jim's track lying east of
longitude 160E, the following applies:
The primary sources of tracking and intensity information for
South Pacific tropical cyclones are the warnings and advisories
issued by the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centres at Nadi, Fiji (for
waters north of latitude 25S), and Wellington, New Zealand (for
waters south of latitude 25S). References to sustained winds imply
a 10-minute averaging period unless otherwise stated.
NORTHERN TERRITORY MONSOON LOW
24 January - 1 February
--------------------------------------------------
The Northern Territory Monsoon LOW had its origins as a weak
westerly-moving tropical LOW in the Arafura Sea just off the northern
coast of the Northern Territory late in January. The LOW swung
southwestward around the Tiwi Islands on 24 January as a 999-hPa LOW
and then progressed southward to make landfall to the west of Darwin.
The LOW continued to drift in a slow, zigzag path between the western
border and the central part of the Northern Territory and was
particularly notable as it deepened over land.
While over land, the LOW exhibited the large scale structure of a
tropical cyclone in satellite imagery, but was without the inner
core, eye wall and spatially-restricted zone of very high wind-speeds
around the eye that would normally be associated with a tropical
cyclone. Nonetheless, on 30 and 31 January the LOW exhibited an eye-
like feature, and throughout its life was associated with convection
in the form of rotating bands, similar in appearance to the outer
bands of a tropical cyclone. An estimated minimum central pressure of
989 hPa is thought to have been achieved at 31/0000 UTC. Thereafter,
the LOW rapidly dispersed over the southwestern corner of the
Northern Territory.
The LOW initiated an active monsoon onset over the northern Top
End, and brought heavy falls to many parts of the western Northern
Territory, including some areas of the Tanami Desert, which exceeded
their annual average rainfall in just a few days.
BoM reported heavy rainfalls in the Darwin region, with many
24-hour totals exceeding 100 mm. Some major totals were 204.6 mm at
Larrakeyah on 24 January and 184 mm at Channel Point in the 24 hours
ending at 9:00 AM on 25 January. As the LOW passed through the Victoria
River District, the Victoria Highway was cut by floodwaters, isolating
Timber Creek and the Victoria River Crossing.
The LOW continued to move south into the Tanami Desert, where it
produced a record breaking 239 mm of rain at Suplejack in the 24 hours
ending at 9:00 AM on 31 January. This was broken again on the following
day with another 243 mm falling. As the LOW moved south of Darwin,
strong winds prevailed along the north coast in the monsoon flow to the
north of the system with some significant wind gusts recorded, mainly in
monsoon squall lines. BoM reported that Elcho Island received gusts
to 45 kts (80-85 km/h). Charles Point also recorded gusts to 44 kts
(81 km/h) and Woolner received a 52-kt (96 km/h) wind gust during a
monsoon squall line just after midday on 31 January. Furthermore, as
the LOW deepened over land over the central Tanami Desert, sustained
winds to near gale-force were produced at Rabbit Flat. Winds
averaging in excess of 25 kts were experienced at the station from
before 31/0800 UTC until after 31/2300 UTC, peaking at 32 kts,
gusting to 45 kts, at 1100 UTC. The peak gust of 49 kts (91 km/h)
from the west-northwest was recorded at 31/1137 UTC. Also, Rabbit
Flat received 165 mm of rain in the 24 hours ending at 9:00 AM on
1 February.
A comprehensive discussion of the Northern Territory Monsoon Low
can be found at:
<http://www.bom.gov.au/bmrc/clfor/cfstaff/jmb/00_2006_28Jan_a.html>
Australian storm chaser Michael Bath has made available on his
website an animated satellite picture loop for the week 26 January
to 1 February:
<http://australiasevereweather.com/temp/200601ntlow.gif>
(Note: This is a 10-Mbyte file.)
(Report written by Simon Clarke with substantial commentary provided
by BoM)
TROPICAL CYCLONE JIM
(TC-10P / TD-08F)
26 January - 2 February
-------------------------------------------
A. Introduction and Storm Origins
---------------------------------
On 24 January 2006 the monsoon trough swept southwards over
northern Australia, linking from a monsoon depression off the Top End
of the Northern Territory (see separate report - Northern Territory
Monsoon Low) to a broad area of LOW pressure which was establishing
itself close to the tropical north coast of Queensland between Cairns
and Ingham.
By 24/2300 UTC, moist northeasterly winds were being drawn onto
the coast south of the small LOW. Particularly heavy rain was
recorded on the coastline between Ingham and Townsville in the warm
air advection set up in response to a 700-hPa thermal trough
extending up to North Queensland from the south.
Over the next 24 hours the low deepened to 1004 hPa and moved to a
position approximately 55 nm off the coast near Cardwell. Satellite
imagery depicted increasing convection near a well-defined LLCC which
was moving slowly to the east-northeast at 5 kts. Over this 24-hour
period the warm air advection increased in strength and rainfall
intensified along the Queensland coast between Ingham and Townsville.
The LOW continued to deepen as it drifted away from the coast,
being steered along the southern periphery of a mid-level ridge to
its north. An upper-level analysis indicated that the system was
located near a ridge axis with low to moderate vertical wind shear
and favorable divergence aloft.
By 27/1800 UTC the central pressure (990 hPa) could be accurately
calculated from surrounding observations as the LOW passed to the
east of Flinders Reef (WMO 94290), where the winds were 150/35 kts
(10-min mean) and the mean sea level pressure was 994.2 hPa. The
system was code named Jim six hours later at 28/0000 UTC near 17.3S/
149.5E, or approximately 200 nm east of Cairns, Queensland.
B. Synoptic History
-------------------
As Tropical Cyclone Jim continued to deepen and move offshore in a
general east to east-northeasterly direction, sporadic gale force
winds were experienced well to the south of the centre in the
Whitsunday Islands region of Queensland. The cyclone passed to the
south of Willis Island where westerly winds averaging 33 kts were
recorded at 28/0200 UTC. Jim passed to the north of Lihou Reef (WMO
94296) at 28/0500 UTC with a MSLP there of 995.2 hPa with easterly
winds averaging 35 kts a short time later.
The upper-level outflow gradually improved over the system and
convection consolidated around the LLCC, resulting in intensification.
The peak intensity--an estimated CP of 955 hPa and peak MSW (10-min avg)
of 80 kts--was attained near 17.7S/161.4E, or about 400 nm northwest of
Noumea, New Caledonia, at 30/0600 UTC. This intensity was maintained for
a further 24 hours as Jim was steered to the east-southeast at 20 kts by
the equatorial ridge oriented northwest-southeast and an upper-level LOW
situated poleward of the LLCC.
Jim turned to the southeast, passing approximately 90 nm parallel
to the northeastern coastline of New Caledonia and gradually weakened
as upper-level shear increased over the cyclone.
Forward momentum slowed in response to the filling of the upper-
level LOW to the south of the system, which also resulted in a
relaxation of the mid-level flow that was steering the cyclone. In
turn, the subtropical ridge to the west of the system built eastwards,
blocking Jim's path. High vertical wind shear, lack of good upper-level
outflow, low sea surface temperatures and the entrainment of cold air
from the south eventually led to the demise of Jim and the system was
classified as extratropical at 1200 UTC on 1 February near 30.0S/175.0E,
or approximately 375 nm east-southeast of Norfolk Island. Convection
became displaced from the LLCC, which persisted as a vortex clearly seen
in visible imagery for several days after. This vortex became stranded
by the subtropical ridge to the south and gradually performed a U-turn,
drifting slowly northwestward back toward New Caledonia before finally
dissipating over water without any appreciable redevelopment.
A graphic depicting the track of Severe Tropical Cyclone Jim may be
found at the following link:
<http://www.tropicalcyclone2005.com/database/2006/SOHEM/BT-IMAGES/2006-10P-JIM.gif>
C. Casualties and Damage
------------------------
There were no reports of significant damage in Queensland as a
result of Jim. Heavy rain was driven on-shore between Ingham and
Townsville, causing flooding of coastal rivers and streams. BoM
reported the heaviest falls in the 24 hours to 9:00 AM on 27 January
of 258 mm at Home Hill, 211 mm at Lucinda, 189 mm at Alva Beach and
188 mm at Townsville.
A barge being used in the reconstruction of the Willis Island
Meteorological Station (mid Coral Sea) was damaged during the storm
and lost the loading ramp on its front.
On 31 January, the Solomon's port of Guadalcanal was closed to
shipping as the result of strong winds and rough seas. In Honiara,
the Ramos III of the Malaita Shipping Company blew from its anchoring
spot to the shoreline. It was reported that many Honiara residents
were left "shocked to see the vessel being thrown aground by the
tossing waves". No one was aboard the vessel at the time. Elsewhere,
parts of the main highway and sections of the feeder roads were reported
as being covered with water.
Jim passed just north of New Caledonia on 30-31 January, brushing
the islands with strong winds and heavy rainfall, but no significant
damage was reported. A maximum alert was announced for the North
Eastern Loyalty Islands where a direct impact was thought a strong
possibility. However, Jim left the Northern Group of Islands largely
unaffected.
Despite being placed well to the west of Fiji, Jim was blamed for
heavy downpours that caused widespread flash-flooding that cut roads,
damaged crops and ruined businesses in the western part of Fiji's
main island, Viti Levu. Most schools in western and northern Fiji
were closed while several public roads north of the country's
international airport were flooded and closed to all traffic.
No fatalities or serious injuries were reported in any of the
areas affected by the cyclone.
(Report written by Simon Clarke)
*************************************************************************
SOUTH PACIFIC (SPA) - South Pacific Ocean East of Longitude 160E
Activity for January: 3 tropical depressions
1 tropical cyclone of gale intensity
1 tropical cyclone of storm intensity
1 tropical cyclone of hurricane intensity **
** - system formed in Bribane's AOR and entered Fiji's AOR already at
hurricane strength
Sources of Information
----------------------
The primary sources of tracking and intensity information for
South Pacific tropical cyclones are the warnings and advisories
issued by the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centres at Nadi, Fiji (for
waters north of latitude 25S), and Wellington, New Zealand (for
waters south of latitude 25S). References to sustained winds imply
a 10-minute averaging period unless otherwise stated.
In the companion tropical cyclone tracks file, I occasionally
annotate positions from warnings issued by the Joint Typhoon Warning
Center (JTWC) of the U. S. Air Force and Navy, located at Pearl
Harbor, Hawaii, when they differ from the Southern Hemisphere
centres' coordinates by usually 40-50 nm or more. The JTWC warnings
are also the source of the 1-minute average maximum sustained wind
values included in the tracks file. Additionally, information
describing details of satellite imagery and atmospheric circulation
features included in the narratives is often gleaned from the JTWC
warnings.
South Pacific Tropical Activity for January
-------------------------------------------
The first two named tropical cyclones of the 2005-2006 South Pacific
season came to life in January. Both Tam and Urmil formed around
mid-month over waters between Fiji and Samoa and moved off quickly to
the southeast. Reports on these cyclones, written by Simon Clarke,
follow.
Three other systems were numbered as tropical depressions by RSMC
Nadi, Fiji. Tropical Depression 05F formed on 10 January about 115 nm
east-southeast of Pago Pago, American Samoa. At the time this system
formed, the pre-Tam depression (TD-04F) was struggling to get its act
together farther to the west, and it looked for a time as if TD-05F
might become the dominant system, but it moved southward into an area
of increasing vertical shear and began to weaken, thus giving TD-04F
a better chance of developing. The last reference to TD-05F, at 0600
UTC on 13 January, placed the weakening center about 200 nm east-
southeast of Tongatapu. A graphic depicting the track of Tropical
Depression 05F may be found at the following link:
<http://www.tropicalcyclone2005.com/database/2006/SOHEM/BT-IMAGES/2006-05F.gif>
Also around mid-month, Fiji designated another low pressure area as
Tropical Depression 07F. At 0600 UTC on the 15th TD-07F was located
roughly 425 nm to the north of Fiji. The system began to move slowly
to the southwest at 5 kts but remained very weak with winds estimated
at no more than 15 kts. The final reference to the system in Fiji's
Tropical Weather Bulletins at 16/1800 UTC placed the LOW approximately
175 nm west-northwest of Fiji. Tropical Depression 09F was very brief,
appearing in Nadi's bulletins only on 30 January. At 30/0900 UTC it was
located about 125 nm east-northeast of Noumea, New Caledonia, moving
quickly to the southeast at 20 kts, and this was the last mention of this
system in Nadi's bulletins. Tracks were not included for TD-07F and
TD-09F in the companion cyclone tracks file.
TROPICAL CYCLONE TAM
(TD-04F / TC-06P)
6 - 15 January
----------------------------------------
A. Introduction and Storm Origins
---------------------------------
Tropical Cyclone Tam was the first tropical cyclone to form in the
Southwest Pacific for the 2005/2006 season in what could be considered
a late start for this region.
Tam was first identified as Tropical Depression 04F near 15.0S/
179.5E, or approximately 200 nm north-northeast of Fiji, as early as
6 January 2006. At this time, TD-04F was located under the 250-hPa
ridge which sustained its deep convection to the north and east of
the LLCC. Environmental shear was low over the system. However,
with no appreciable surges in the low-level subtropical airflow, the
system lingered for a few days while moving slowly west-southwestward
towards the main Fiji Islands of Vanua Levu and Viti Levu. The
depression fluctuated between phases of strengthening and weakening,
affected by diurnal influences with periods of dry air entrainment
and occasional strong shear evident in its western quadrants.
Occasionally, the LLCC lost most of its deep convection.
On 9 January, TD-04F drifted north, moving into an area of upper-
level divergence with minimal shear and re-assimilated with the South
Pacific ITCZ. The region was experiencing intensifying monsoonal
activity with a new and stronger depression (TD-05F) developing to
the east of TD-04F. This new depression threatened to dominate and
absorb TD-04F. SSTs in the region were approximately 29-30 C with
moist tropical air feeding into both systems from the north, producing
a conducive environment for further development.
At 10/2100 UTC, TD-05F was located near 15.2S/169.0W, or about
115 nm southeast of Pago Pago, American Samoa, and moving south-
southeastward to the south of Niue at 12 kts into a region of
increasing environmental shear. This system failed to develop any
further as a result, and this in turn provided TD-04F with the
opportunity to intensify. By 12/0600 UTC the centre of TD-04F
(991 hPa) was located near 14.7S/177.3W, or roughly 335 nm northeast
of Fiji, moving eastward at 15 kts and was officially upgraded to
tropical cyclone status and named Tam by RSMC Nadi.
B. Synoptic History
-------------------
The newly-christened Tam was steered to the southeast by the deep
environmental northwesterlies while deep convection formed a cold
overcast over the LLCC. Tam reached a peak intensity of maximum 10-
min avg winds of 45 kts at 13/0000 UTC (near 17.0S/173.2W) with a CP
of 987 hPa. The cyclone was located approximately 200 nm southwest
of Pago Pago, American Samoa, at this time.
Thereafter, Tam continued to maintain deep convection close to the
LLCC despite vertical shear increasing over the system as the
translational speed of the LLCC resulted in negligible resultant
shear. However, by 13/1200 UTC, Tam's convective tops were being
blown off to the southeast by the increasing upper-level wind shear.
Decreasing SSTs, strong upper-level shear and overall acceleration
to the south at 30 kts resulted in Tam's being declared extratropical
near 33.0S/168.0W, or approximately 835 nm southwest of Rarotonga, by
14/1200 UTC. The extratropical LOW continued to race to the south,
being located several hundred miles east of New Zealand's North Island
by 15/0000 UTC.
A graphic depicting the track of Tropical Cyclone Tam may be found
at the following link:
<http://www.tropicalcyclone2005.com/database/2006/SOHEM/BT-IMAGES/2006-06P-TAM.gif>
Another graphic with a blow-up of the earlier portion of Tam's track
may be found at the following link:
<http://www.tropicalcyclone2005.com/database/2006/SOHEM/BT-IMAGES/2006-06P-TAM-A.gif>
C. Damage and Casualties
------------------------
Tam passed as close as 20 nm to Niuafo'ou, Tonga (population 500),
while at minimal tropical storm strength. There were no reports of
any significant damage to this island or elsewhere throughout its
passage across the South Pacific. Niue reported widespread fallen
branches, minor damage to crops and some localized power interruption,
but nothing of significance. This minor damage probably resulted from
the combined stormy effects of Tropical Cyclone Tam and Tropical
Depression 05F.
(Report written by Simon Clarke)
TROPICAL CYCLONE URMIL
(TD-06F / TC-07P)
13 - 15 January
------------------------------------------
Tropical Cyclone Urmil was a short-lived cyclone that followed a
similar track to that taken by Tropical Cyclone Tam a couple of days
earlier.
TD-06F was first identified near 14.0S/174.0W, or approximately
200 nm west of Pago Pago, American Samoa, at 13/1800 UTC, moving to
the southeast at 10 kts. Tropical Cyclone Tam was located to the
southeast of TD-06F at this time and moving rapidly to the southeast
and weakening. TD-06F rapidly spun up in Tam's wake under favourable
conditions of divergent 250-hpa flow, moderate environmental shear
and SST's of 29 C.
By 13/2100 UTC, TD-06F was officially upgraded to cyclone status
and named Urmil. The cyclone was located near 15.3S/174.1W, or
approximately 190 nm west-southwest of Pago Pago, American Samoa, and
continuing to move in an ever-accelerating path to the southeast.
Urmil's peak intensity (CP of 975 hPa - maximum 10-min avg wind of
60 kts ) was reached at 14/1200 UTC when the centre was located about
160 nm northeast of Tongatapu (near 19.8S/172.8W). This followed a
6-hour period of explosive development whereby the primary band
completely wound around Urmil's LLCC. At this time, environmental
conditions were favourable for development despite upper-level shear
of approximately 20 kts. The resultant shear had a negligible effect
given the increasing translational speed of the cyclone at the surface.
However, the cyclone was running into ever-increasing vertical
shear and was soon to lose its organisation with cloud tops decreasing
in spatial extent and warming significantly near its centre. At
15/0000 UTC, Urmil's deep convection was displaced about 0.5 degrees to
the south of the exposed LLCC. The cyclone was subsequently downgraded
to an extratropical depression six hours later near 25.0S/170.0W, or
approximately 620 nm west-southwest of Rarotonga in the Cook Islands.
Ultimately, the remnant LOW lost its identity soon afterward in the
mid-latitude westerlies.
A graphic depicting the track of Tropical Cyclone Urmil may be
found at the following link:
<http://www.tropicalcyclone2005.com/database/2006/SOHEM/BT-IMAGES/2006-07P-URMIL.gif>
Urmil passed as close as 50 nm east of the Vava'u Group and 80 nm
east of the Ha'api Group, producing little more than intermittent
gales and storm-swept tides. Urmil also passed midway between
Tongatapu and Niue (approximately 110 nm from each), and again there
were no reports of significant damage.
(Report written by Simon Clarke)
*************************************************************************
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.
(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>
JTWC warnings for past storms are archived on the NRL Monterry website:
<http://www.nrlmry.navy.mil/tc_pages/tc_home.html>
On the NRL site, the link to past years can be found in the upper left
corner of the screen.
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.
Additional tropical satellite imagery, along with looping ability for
composite microwave imagery for the Western Hemisphere north of the
equator, can be found at:
(1) For the Eastern North Pacific:
<http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/PS/TROP/trop-epac.html>
(2) For the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea:
<http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/PS/TROP/trop-atl.html>
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.
*************************************************************************
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, Chris
Landsea, and John Diebolt):
<http://australiasevereweather.com/cyclones/>
<http://www.typhoon2000.ph>
<http://mpittweather.com>
<ftp://ftp.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/pub/landsea/padgett/>
<http://www.tropicalcyclone2005.com/>
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.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/tropicalcyclone>
TROPICAL CYCLONE REPORTS AVAILABLE
JTWC now has available on its website the Annual Tropical Cyclone
Report (ATCR) for 2004 (2003-2004 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 2004 Atlantic and Eastern North Pacific
tropical cyclones; also, storm reports for all the 2004 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
Simon Clarke (Northeast Australia/Coral Sea, South Pacific)
E-mail: saclarke@iprimus.com.au
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