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Graphic of a globe with a red analog clockThis article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. Feel free to improve this article or discuss changes on the talk page, but please note that updates without valid and reliable references will be removed. (May 2008) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Nargis
Extremely severe cyclonic storm (IMD scale)
Category 4 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Cyclone Nargis on May 1
FormedApril 27, 2008
DissipatedMay 3, 2008
Highest winds3-minute sustained: 165 km/h (105 mph)
1-minute sustained: 215 km/h (135 mph)
Lowest pressure962 hPa (mbar); 28.41 inHg
Fatalities≥351 total
Areas affectedSri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, Burma
Part of the 2008 North Indian Ocean cyclone season

Cyclone Nargis (JTWC designation: 01B, also known as Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Nargis) was the first tropical cyclone to make landfall on Burma since Cyclone Mala in 2006. The first named storm of the 2008 North Indian Ocean cyclone season, Nargis developed on April 27 in the central Bay of Bengal. Initially it tracked slowly northwestward, and encountering favorable conditions it quickly strengthened. Dry air weakened the cyclone on April 29, though after beginning a steady eastward motion Nargis rapidly intensified to attain peak winds of at least 165 km/h (105 mph) on May 2; the Joint Typhoon Warning Center assessed peak winds of 215 km/h (135 mph). The cyclone moved ashore in the Ayeyarwady Division of Burma near peak intensity, and after passing near the major city of Yangon, Cyclone Nargis gradually weakened until dissipating near the border of Burma and Thailand.

Storm history

In the last week of April, an area of deep convection persisted near a low-level circulation in the Bay of Bengal about 1150 km (715 mi) east-southeast of Chennai, India. With good outflow and low wind shear, the system slowly organized as its circulation consolidated. At 0300 UTC on April 27, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) classified the system as a depression, and nine hours later the system intensified into a deep depression. At the same time, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center classified it as Tropical Cyclone 01B. With a ridge to its north, the system tracked slowly north-northwestward as banding features improved. At 0000 UTC on April 28, the IMD upgraded the system to Cyclonic Storm Nargis while it was located about 550 km (340 mi) east of Chennai, India.

On April 28, the motion of Nargis became nearly stationary while located between ridges to its northwest and southeast. That day, the JTWC upgraded the storm to cyclone status, or the equivalence of a minimal hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale. At around the same time, the IMD upgraded Nargis to a severe cyclonic storm. The cyclone developed a concentric eye feature, which is an eyewall outside the inner dominant eyewall, with warm waters aiding in further intensification. Early on April 29, the JTWC estimated Nargis reached winds of 160 km/h (100 mph), and at the same time the IMD classified the system as a very severe cyclonic storm. Initially, the cyclone was forecasted to strike Bangladesh or southeastern India. Subsequently, the cyclone became disorganized and weakened due to subsidence and drier air; as a result, deep convection near the center markedly decreased. At the same time, the storm began a motion to the northeast around the periphery of a ridge to its southeast. The circulation remained strong despite the diminishing convection, though satellite intensity estimates using the Dvorak technique indicated the cyclone could have weakened to tropical storm status. By late on April 29, convection had begun to rebuild, though immediate restrengthening was prevented by increased wind shear.

On May 1, after turning nearly due eastward, Cyclone Nargis began rapidly intensifying, due to greatly improved outflow in association with an approaching upper-level trough. Strengthening continued as it developed a well-defined eye with a diameter of 19 km (12 mi), and early on May 2 the JTWC estimated the cyclone reached peak winds of 215 km/h (135 mph) as it approached the coast of Burma. At the same time, the IMD assessed Nargis as attaining peak winds of 165 km/h (105 mph). Around 1200 UTC on May 2, Cyclone Nargis made landfall in the Ayeyarwady Division of Burma. The storm gradually weakened over land, with its proximity to the Andaman Sea preventing rapid weakening. Its track turned to the northeast due to the approach of a mid-latitude trough to its northwest, passing just north of Yangon with winds of 130 km/h (80 mph). Early on May 3 the IMD issued its final advisory on the storm. It quickly weakened after turning to the northeast toward the rugged terrain near the Burma/Thailand border, and after deteriorating to minimal tropical storm status, the JTWC issued its last advisory on Nargis.

Impact

Western Bay of Bengal

In Sri Lanka, the cyclone produced heavy rainfall, which led to flooding and landslides across ten districts in the country. The districts of Ratnapura and Kegalle were the most affected, where more than 3,000 families were displaced. Thousands of houses were flooded, with 21 reported destroyed. The rainfall left 4,500 people homeless, and more than 35,000 people were affected on the island. Three casualties were reported on the island.

The India Meteorological Department recommended for fishermen to not sail into the ocean during the passage of Nargis. Strong waves and gusty winds were expected along the Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh coastline in India. Additionally, the influence of the cyclone lowered temperatures along the Indian coastline, which had been affected by a severe heat wave.

When the cyclone was originally expected to strike near Bangladesh, officials requested for farmers to hurriedly finish harvesting the rice crop; at the time, the country was experiencing severe food shortages from Cyclone Sidr in the previous year and flooding earlier in the year, and a direct strike from Nargis would have resulted in destroyed crops due to strong winds.

Burma

Damage in Myanmar was extensive, where 351 people have been reported dead according to United Nations officials. Thousands of homes and businesses throughout the country, including in Yangon, were damaged or destroyed by the winds and storm surge.

See also

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References

  1. Charlie Forecast Team (2008). "April 25 Significant Tropical Weather Advisory". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Retrieved 2008-05-02.
  2. Charlie Forecast Team (2008). "April 26 Significant Tropical Weather Advisory". Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Retrieved 2008-05-02.
  3. India Meteorological Department (2008). "Depression over southeast Bay of Bengal". Retrieved 2008-05-02.
  4. India Meteorological Department (2008). "Deep Depression over southeast and adjoining Southwest Bay of Bengal". Retrieved 2008-05-02.
  5. Joint Typhoon Warning Center (2008). "Tropical Cyclone 01B Warning NR 001". Retrieved 2008-05-02.
  6. Joint Typhoon Warning Center (2008). "Tropical Cyclone 01B Warning NR 002". Retrieved 2008-05-02.
  7. ^ India Meteorological Department (2008). "Cyclonic storm "NARGIS" over southwest and adjoining southeast and westcentral Bay of Bengal". Retrieved 2008-05-02.
  8. Joint Typhoon Warning Center (2008). "Cyclone Nargis Warning NR 004". Retrieved 2008-05-02.
  9. India Meteorological Department (2008). "Severe Cyclonic storm "NARGIS" over southwest and adjoining southeast and westcentral Bay of Bengal". Retrieved 2008-05-02.
  10. Joint Typhoon Warning Center (2008). "Cyclone Nargis Warning NR 005". Retrieved 2008-05-02.
  11. Joint Typhoon Warning Center (2008). "Cyclone Nargis Warning NR 006". Retrieved 2008-05-02.
  12. Joint Typhoon Warning Center (2008). "Cyclone Nargis Warning NR 007". Retrieved 2008-05-02.
  13. India Meteorological Department (2008). "Very Severe Cyclonic storm "NARGIS" over westcentral and adjoining southwest and southeast Bay of Bengal". Retrieved 2008-05-02.
  14. Sify News (2008-04-28). "Cyclone Nargis triggers fears in Tamil Nadu". Retrieved 2008-05-03.
  15. The Daily Star (2008-04-29). "Cyclone Nargis poised to strike in 4-5 days". Retrieved 2008-05-03.
  16. Joint Typhoon Warning Center (2008). "Cyclone Nargis Warning NR 008". Retrieved 2008-05-02.
  17. Joint Typhoon Warning Center (2008). "Cyclone Nargis Warning NR 009". Retrieved 2008-05-02.
  18. Joint Typhoon Warning Center (2008). "Cyclone Nargis Warning NR 010". Retrieved 2008-05-02.
  19. Joint Typhoon Warning Center (2008). "Cyclone Nargis Warning NR 012". Retrieved 2008-05-02.
  20. Joint Typhoon Warning Center (2008). "Cyclone Nargis Warning NR 017". Retrieved 2008-05-02.
  21. Joint Typhoon Warning Center (2008). "Cyclone Nargis Warning NR 020". Retrieved 2008-05-02.
  22. India Meteorological Department (2008). "Tropical Storm "Nargis" Advisory No. Thirty-Six Issued At 1100 UTC of 2 May, 2008 Based on 0900 UTC Charts of 2 May, 2008". Retrieved 2008-05-02.
  23. India Meteorological Department (2008). "May 2, 2008 Shipping Bulletin for Met. Area VIII North of Equator". Retrieved 2008-05-02.
  24. Joint Typhoon Warning Center (2008). "Cyclone Nargis Warning NR 023". Retrieved 2008-05-02.
  25. India Meteorological Department (2008). "Tropical Storm "Nargis" Advisory No. Forty-One Issued At 0200 UTC of 3 May, 2008 Based on 0000 UTC Charts of 3 May, 2008". Retrieved 2008-05-02.
  26. Joint Typhoon Warning Center (2008). "Cyclone Nargis Warning NR 025". Retrieved 2008-05-03.
  27. ^ Daily Mirror (2008-04-30). "Floods leave thousands homeless". Retrieved 2008-05-03.
  28. Lakshmi de Silva (2008-04-30). "Over 35,000 affected by floods, landslides". Upali Newspapers Limited. Retrieved 2008-05-03.
  29. Press Trust of India (2008-04-28). "Orissa heat deaths rise to eight as cyclonic storm forms over Bay". Retrieved 2008-05-03.
  30. Steve Herman (04-29-2008). "Bangladesh's Farmers Told Not to Panic About Approaching Cyclone". VOA News. Retrieved 2008-05-03. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  31. Associated Press (2008). "Deadly Cyclone Pummels Myanmar". AOL News. Retrieved 2008-05-04.
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