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2008 North Indian Ocean cyclone season
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2008 North Indian Ocean cyclone season
| First storm formed: |
April 27, 2008 |
| Last storm dissipated: |
Season Currently Active |
| Strongest storm: |
Nargis - 962 hPa (mbar), 165 km/h (105 mph) (3-minute sustained) |
| Total depressions: |
3 |
| Total storms: |
1 |
| Cyclonic Storms: |
1 |
| Total fatalities: |
at least 135,000 |
| Total damage: |
~ $10 billion (2008 USD) |
North Indian Ocean cyclone seasons
2006, 2007, 2008, Post-2008 |
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The 2008 North Indian cyclone season is an ongoing event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. The North Indian cyclone season has no official bounds, but cyclones tend to form between April and December, with peaks in May and November. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northern Indian Ocean.
The scope of this basin is north of the Equator and west of the Malaysian Peninsula. The IMD and JTWC monitor tropical cyclones in this basin. This basin is divided into two different seas by India; the Arabian Sea to the west, abbriviated ARB by the IMD, and the Bay of Bengal to the east, abbriviated BOB by the IMD. On average, about 4 to 6 storms form in this basin every season.
Storms
Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Nargis
- Main article: Cyclone Nargis
An area of disturbed weather formed east of the Nicobar Islands on April 24. It slowly started moving in a northwesterly direction into an area of low vertical wind shear. The JTWC started issuing statements on the system on April 25.[1] On April 27, the Indian Meteorological Department upgraded it to a depression,[2] and the next day it was upgraded to Cyclonic Storm Nargis.[3] A few hours later it was upgraded to a Severe Cyclonic Storm.[4] The next day it was given the status of a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm with winds up to 90 knots (based on IMD observations) although the JTWC assesed peak winds of 115 knots, or 135 mph (215 kmph).[5] Nargis hit southern Burma with 135 mph winds and then gradually started dissipating.[6][7]
Damage in Myanmar was extensive, where 243 people have been reported dead according to United Nations officials. Later, there were nearly 4,000 deaths confirmed. It became likely that 15,000 or even 22,000[8] deaths occurred, but this was disputed by officials. Later, 22,980 deaths have been blamed on Nargis and more than 40,000 other people were missing. If they were all killed, then Nargis would be the 6th deadliest cyclone in this basin on record, and the 3rd deadliest in this basin in modern history. The Labutta Township alone reportedly had a toll of 80,000 deaths; 10,000 more were in Bogale, and some estimate the death toll from Nargis being well over 100,000, and is at least as of now over 130,000. So far, Nargis is ranked as the 8th deadliest cyclone of all time, the deadliest named cyclone in this basin, and the second deadliest named cyclone of all time, after Typhoon Nina of 1975.[9] Thousands of homes and businesses throughout the country, including in Yangon, were damaged or destroyed by the winds and storm surge. The Irrawaddy Delta also suffered severely from the storm surge. Damage is estimated at nearly $10 billion (USD).[10][11]
Depression ARB 01
An area of convection formed north west of India on June 4th.[12] The IMD designated it as a Depression the next day.[13] Although it was forecast to intensify further,[14] it did not develop as it turned away from the coast.[15] The IMD downgraded it to an active area of low pressure on June 7 as it weakened over the Arabian Sea.[16]
Depression BOB 02
On June 16 a depression formed in the Bay of Bengal about 220 km southeast of Kolkata,[17] and made landfall over Bangladesh the next day.[18] It dissapated over Jharkhand on June 18.[19]
Timeline of recent events
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June
- June 5
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- 0000 UTC - The IMD designates a low pressure area 800 km southwest of Mumbai, India as Depression ARB 01. [20]
- June 7
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- 0300 UTC - The IMD issues its last advisory on weakening Depression ARB 01. [21]
- June 16
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- 0300 UTC - The IMD designates a low pressure area 220 kms southeast of Calcutta, India as Depression BOB 02. [22]
- c. 1130 UTC - Depression BOB 02 makes landfall on Bangladesh, India.[23]
- June 18
- 0900 UTC - The IMD issues its last advisory on Depression BOB 02, weakening inland over Jharkhand, India.[24]
Storm names
These are the names during the season, as well as the next four names of the list of North Indian Ocean storm names. The names will be used sequentially and once only.
- Nargis
- Abe (unused)
- Khai-Muk (unused)
- Nisha (unused)
- Bijli (unused)
See also
References
