MONTHLY GLOBAL TROPICAL CYCLONE SUMMARY JULY, 2008 (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.) ************************************************************************* JULY HIGHLIGHTS --> Longest-lived Atlantic July tropical cyclone on record brushes Bermuda --> Category 2 hurricane strikes southern Texas --> Three hurricanes in Eastern North Pacific --> Two typhoons strike Taiwan followed by landfall in China ************************************************************************* WIKIPEDIA TROPICAL CYCLONE REPORTS Short reports with satellite pictures and small-scale maps for all tropical cyclones may be found at the following links: For some storms more detailed reports have been prepared. In those cases I will include the specific links in the reports for the applicable tropical cyclones. ************************************************************************* !!!!!!!!!! EXTRA FEATURE !!!!!!!!!! A REVIEW OF THE 2007-2008 TROPICAL CYCLONE SEASON FOR THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE Following is a tabular summary of all the tropical depressions and tropical cyclones which occurred in the Southern Hemisphere between 1 July 2007 and 30 June 2008 as reported in the Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Summaries prepared by the author. (1) Number - this is the sequential cyclone number assigned by JTWC in Hawaii. (2) Name - the name (if any) assigned by the responsible Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre. For systems in the South Indian Ocean west of 90E and in the Southwest Pacific east of 160E which were unnamed, the alphanumeric designator applied by La Reunion or Fiji, respectively, is given in this column. (3) Dates - range of dates for which tracking information for the cyclone is available in the Global Tropical Cyclone Tracks files prepared by the author. The dates given in most cases refer to the time the system was in warning status and generally do not include the pre-depression stages of the disturbance. (4) Pressure - Lowest central pressure (either estimated or recorded) during the lifetime of the cyclone. An asterisk (*) following the pressure indicates the reading was an actual measured pressure. Central pressure is given in millibars, which is numerically equivalent to hectopascals. (5) MSW 1-min avg - maximum 1-minute average sustained windspeed in knots as assigned by JTWC. An asterisk (*) following the MSW indicates that it was an actual measured value. (6) MSW 10-min avg - maximum 10-minute average sustained windspeed in knots as assigned by the responsible Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre. An asterisk (*) following the MSW indicates that it was an actual measured value. (7) Basins - tropical cyclone basins where the cyclone tracked during its life: SWI - Southwest Indian Ocean - West of 90E AUW - Northwest Australia/Southeast Indian Ocean - 90E to 135E AUE - Northeast Australia/Coral Sea - 135E to 160E SPA - South Pacific Ocean - East of 160E SAT - South Atlantic Ocean A number in parentheses (e.g. (1) ) following an entry refers to a note following the entries for the given basin. A separate table is given for each of the four Southern Hemisphere basins. Abbreviations for Tropical Cyclone Warning Centres: JTWC - Joint Typhoon Warning Center, formerly on Guam, now at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii MFR - Meteo France Reunion (RSMC La Reunion) RSMC - Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre ************************************************************************* SOUTHWEST INDIAN OCEAN JTWC NAME DATES CENT MSW MSW BASIN NUM PRS 1-MIN 10-MIN (mb) (kts) (kts) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ --- ----- 21-24 Jul --- 30 -- SWI (1) 01S ----- 27-31 Jul 992 35 40 SWI/AUW (2) --- (MFR-01) 11-14 Oct 1005 30 25 SWI (3) 04S Bongwe 17-24 Nov 976 65 60 SWI (4) 06S Celina 12-21 Dec 992 35 40 SWI 07S Dama 18-21 Dec 995 50 35 SWI 09S Elnus 30 Dec-05 Jan 994 40 35 SWI 13S Fame 24 Jan-01 Feb 972 80 65 SWI (5) 14S Gula 26 Jan-03 Feb 950 85 85 SWI (6) 16S Hondo 04-25 Feb 906 125 120 SWI 18S Ivan 07-22 Feb 930 115 100 SWI 22S Jokwe 04-15 Mar 930 100 105 SWI 23S Kamba 07-12 Mar 930 110 100 SWI 25S Lola 20-26 Mar 994 45 35 SWI NOTES: (1) No warnings were issued by any agency for this system. JTWC rendered one Dvorak rating of T2.5/2.5, but intensity estimates from SAB were at T2.5/2.5 for about 24 hours, suggesting that the system was as least a strong tropical depression and possibly a minimal tropical storm based on a 1-min avg criterion. (2) Meteo France issued no warnings on this system. BoM Perth in real time assigned a peak MSW of 30 kts, but in post-storm analysis the intensity was upped to 40 kts based upon QuikScat data. Therefore, the system is now officially considered as an unnamed tropical cyclone. (3) JTWC issued no warnings on this system--in the track I prepared I obtained the 1-min avg MSW values from the JTWC and SAB satellite fix bulletins. (4) JTWC's estimated peak 1-min avg MSW of 65 kts was at 19/1800 UTC, at which time MFR was reporting 50 kts (10-min avg). MFR's peak 10-min avg MSW of 60 kts occurred at 22/0600 UTC, at which time JTWC was reporting a 1-min avg MSW of 55 kts. (5) The highest 10-min avg MSW assigned by MFR was 60 kts at 27/0600 and 1200 UTC. The MFR warning issued at 27/1800 UTC, after the center had moved inland in Madagascar, indicated that Fame had briefly reached the tropical cyclone stage with winds of 65 kts shortly before moving onshore. (6) In the JMV file, JTWC has upped Gula's peak 1-min avg MSW to 100 kts. ************************************************************************* NORTHWEST AUSTRALIA / SOUTHEAST INDIAN OCEAN JTWC NAME DATES CENT MSW MSW BASIN NUM PRS 1-MIN 10-MIN (mb) (kts) (kts) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 03S Lee-Ariel 13-22 Nov 980 65 50 AUW/SWI (1) 08S Melanie 27 Dec-02 Jan 964 60 60 AUW --- ----- 31 Dec-02 Jan 994 -- 30 AUW 10S Helen 03-06 Jan 975 45 50 AUW 17S ----- 04-10 Feb 992 40 30 AUW (2) 19S Nicholas 12-20 Feb 944 80 80 AUW 21S Ophelia 27 Feb-07 Mar 972 65 60 AUW 26S Pancho 24-30 Mar 938 95 90 AUW 28S Rosie 20-25 Apr 980 45 50 AUW 29S Durga 22-25 Apr 988 40 40 AUW (3) NOTES: (1) TC Lee formed in the Australian Region and moved westward into the Southwest Indian Ocean basin, where it was renamed Arial by Mauritius. Both BoM Perth and Metro France estimated the peak 10-min avg MSW at 50 kts. (2) BoM Perth forecast peripheral gales for this system, but it was not named as it did not meet the structural requirements for a tropical cyclone that gales be wrapped around more than 50% of the center for at least six hours. (3) TC Durga formed north of 10S in the AOR of the Jakarta TCWC, which became operational in January, 2008, and was the first cyclone to be named by that agency. ************************************************************************* NORTHEAST AUSTRALIA / CORAL SEA JTWC NAME DATES CENT MSW MSW BASIN NUM PRS 1-MIN 10-MIN (mb) (kts) (kts) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 02P Guba 12-19 Nov 970 75 75 AUE (1) --- ----- 27 Dec-04 Jan 995 -- 50 AUE (2) --- ----- 11-13 Feb --- -- 50 AUE (3) 20P ----- 28 Feb-01 Mar 999 35 30 AUE (4) NOTES: (1) The name Guba was assigned by the TCWC at Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. (2) This LOW was not a tropical cyclone, but was perhaps at least partially a hybrid system. (3) System was not a tropical cyclone but rather a vigorous monsoon LOW. (4) Brisbane treated this system as a tropical LOW with peripheral gales. JTWC issued only two warnings, and the significant deltas between JTWC's and Brisbane's center fixes suggest that JTWC was perhaps following a different LLCC. ************************************************************************* SOUTH PACIFIC OCEAN JTWC NAME DATES CENT MSW MSW BASIN NUM PRS 1-MIN 10-MIN (mb) (kts) (kts) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ --- (03F) 24 Nov-02 Dec 999 -- 30 SPA (1) 05P Daman 03-10 Dec 925 105 105 SPA (2) --- (05F) 10-16 Dec 1000 -- 30 SPA (3) 11P Elisa 07-12 Jan 980 45 50 SPA --- (08F) 09-14 Jan 998 -- 25 SPA --- (09F) 12-13 Jan 999 -- 25 SPA 12P Funa 15-20 Jan 930 105 95 SPA --- (11F) 19-24 Jan 992 -- 30 SPA (4) 15P Gene 26 Jan-09Feb 945 100 85 SPA 24P (14F) 19-23 Mar 998 35 30 SPA --- (15F) 04-07 Apr 1002 -- 30 SPA (3) 27P (16F) 17-19 Apr 998 35 30 SPA (5) NOTES: (1) Dvorak satellite intensity estimates on 1 December reached T2.5/2.5 from JTWC and T3.0/3.0 from SAB, suggesting that the system was possibly a minimal tropical storm based on a 1-min avg MSW criterion. (2) Dr. Karl Hoarau estimates that Daman reached a peak 1-min avg MSW of 130 kts at 1800 UTC 6 December. (3) Some peripheral gales associated with this system. (4) System was a large, monsoon-gyre circulation with an extensive area of peripheral gales at times reaching storm force. A Brisbane bulletin on the 22nd noted that the system was similar to the famous June, 1994, storm which destroyed a cruising fleet. (5) Dvorak ratings from CPHC and Brisbane reached T3.0/3.0 early on the 18th. JTWC's ratings peaked at T2.5/2.5 at 17/2330 UTC and were coming down by 18/0530 UTC. The highest noted from SAB was T2.0/2.0. The satellite intensity estimates from CPHC and Brisbane seem to support this system being a minimal "10-min avg" tropical cyclone. RSMC Nadi did forecast peripheral gales for the system. ************************************************************************* ************************************************************************* ACTIVITY BY BASINS ATLANTIC (ATL) - North Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico Activity for July: 1 tropical storm 1 hurricane 1 intense hurricane 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. Atlantic Tropical Activity for July ----------------------------------- Tropical cyclone activity in the Atlantic basin during July was much above average. Three tropical storms formed--two of these reached hurricane force and one became a major hurricane. On average, one named storm forms in July with a hurricane appearing every other year. In terms of accumulated cyclone energy (ACE), July, 2008, was the third most active on record, after 2005 and 1916. The reports which follow are pretty much taken verbatim from the monthly summary for July prepared by the Hurricane Specialists at TPC/NHC. The official storm reports for some of the individual cyclones are already available on TPC/NHC's website at the following URL: HURRICANE BERTHA (TC-02) 3 - 20 July ------------------------------------ Bertha developed from a strong tropical wave which moved off the coast of western Africa on 1 July. The system gradually became better organized and a tropical depression formed early on 3 July over the far eastern Atlantic about 165 nm south-southeast of the Cape Verde Islands. The depression strengthened and was upgraded to Tropical Storm Bertha on the second advisory (03/1500 UTC) while passing south of the Cape Verdes. Bertha's MSW had increased to 45 kts by 04/1200 UTC, but changed little over the next couple of days as the cyclone moved quickly west-northwestward over cooler SSTs. Late on 6 July, Bertha reached warmer waters and began to strengthen, reaching hurricane intensity at 0600 UTC on the 7th about 740 nm east of the Northern Leeward Islands. Bertha then turned northwestward and rapidly intensified, reaching a peak intensity of 105 kts early on 8 July. (NOTE: In post-storm analysis, it has been determined that Bertha reached a peak intensity of 110 kts at 07/2100 UTC--a strong Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir/Simpson scale.) Late on the 8th increased shear caused the cyclone to weaken, followed by re-intensification on the 9th as the shear decreased. During the next couple of days, Bertha turned north-northwestward with a decrease in forward speed. On 12-13 July the hurricane stalled a couple hundred miles south-southeast of Bermuda and gradually weakened to a tropical storm. On 14 July the cyclone began moving north-northwestward with the center passing about 35 nm east of Bermuda. After passing Bermuda, the forward speed slowed down again and Bertha turned eastward, followed by a turn to the southeast. After this the storm accelerated northeastward and regained hurricane status again on 18 July. Bertha passed about 390 nm southeast of Cape Race, Newfoundland, before becoming extra- tropical over the North Atlantic on the 20th. The extratropical LOW continued northeastward toward Iceland where it subsequently merged with a larger extratropical cyclone. Bertha brought tropical storm conditions to Bermuda during its close passage on the 14th. Hurricane-force wind gusts were experienced at some elevated locations on Bermuda; however, only minor damage was reported. Bertha's 17 days as a tropical cyclone makes it the longest- lived July Atlantic basin tropical cyclone on record. The Wikipedia report on Hurricane Bertha may be accessed at the following link: TROPICAL STORM CRISTOBAL (TC-03) 19 - 24 July -------------------------------------------- Cristobal formed from an area of disturbed weather associated with a broad area of low pressure that moved northeastward from the Gulf of Mexico across Florida. The system continued to move northeastward near the East Coast of the United States and became a tropical depression at 19/0000 UTC about 55 nm south-southeast of Charleston, South Carolina. The depression continued moving slowly northeastward and was upgraded to Tropical Storm Cristobal at 19/2100 UTC while centered about 195 nm southwest of Cape Hatteras. While the storm moved northeastward near the North Carolina Outer Banks, the coast escaped the strongest winds since most of the associated weather was located to the east of the center. Cristobal later moved away from the U. S. coast with increasing forward speed and reached its maximum intensity of 55 kts on 21 July while located about 630 nm southwest of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Cristobal then moved to the east-northeast and became extratropical on the 23rd about 330 nm east of Halifax. No damage or casualties are known to have resulted from Tropical Storm Cristobal. The Wikipedia report on Tropical Storm Cristobal may be accessed at the following link: U. S. rainfall data for Cristobal may be found at the following URL: HURRICANE DOLLY (TC-04) 20 - 28 July ----------------------------------- The month's second hurricane originated from a tropical wave that emerged from Africa on 11 July. The system moved rapidly westward and generated a surface low-pressure area about 1400 nm east of the Windward Islands on 13 July. The LOW moved generally westward over the next several days and cross the Windward Islands early on 17 July. As the system traversed the eastern and central Caribbean Sea it had a broad low-level circulation with winds to tropical storm force in squalls, but lacked a definite center of circulation. The system reached the western Caribbean on 20 July and a well-defined center of circulation formed with Tropical Storm Dolly being classified on the first advisory at 1500 UTC. Dolly was then centered about 260 nm east of Chetumal, Mexico. The newly-formed tropical storm moved northwestward and temporarily became disorganized while its center was reforming near the northeastern Yucatan Peninsula. Dolly re-organized over the Gulf of Mexico on the 21st and headed west-northwestward toward the western Gulf of Mexico coastline. On 22 July the cyclone turned toward the northwest and strengthened into a hurricane. Dolly slowed its forward speed and reached a peak intensity of 85 kts on 23 July shortly before its eye made landfall on South Padre Island, Texas, a short distance southeast of Port Mansfield. After landfall the cyclone weakened steadily, being downgraded to a tropical storm early on 24 July and to a tropical depression later that day as it crossed the Rio Grande. The weakening Dolly dumped heavy rains along its path. The surface circulation dissipated over northern Mexico on the 25th but its remnants aloft moved over New Mexico on 26-27 July while continuing to produce heavy rains. The system lost its identity as it approached the Texas Panhandle early on 28 July. One person drowned in rough surf in the Florida Panhandle, and preliminary damage totals range from $750 million to $1 billion. The Wikipedia report on Hurricane Dolly may be accessed at the following link: U. S. rainfall data for Dolly may be found at the following URL: ************************************************************************* NORTHEAST PACIFIC (NEP) - North Pacific Ocean East of Longitude 180 Activity for July: 1 tropical depression 1 tropical storm 3 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 (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 July -------------------------------------------- Tropical cyclone activity in the Eastern North Pacific during July was near average. Four tropical storms formed with three reaching hurricane intensity, but none of these reached intense hurricane status (Category 3 or higher). Additionally, another tropical depression formed but did not become a named storm. On the average about four tropical storms form during July with two becoming hurricanes and one reaching intense hurricane status. At the beginning of the month Hurricane Boris was ongoing and Tropical Depression Cristina was dissipating. The reports which follow are pretty much taken verbatim from the monthly summary prepared by the Hurricane Specialists at TPC/NHC. Tropical Depression 05E was a short-lived tropical cyclone that formed from a tropical wave on 5 July about 150 nm south-southeast of Acapulco, Mexico. The cyclone initially moved northwestard but turned to the north-northwest the next day and slowed in its forward motion. A very large area of convective activity accompanied the depression on 6 July, but most of that remained offshore from Mexico until late that day. Continuing slowly northward, the center of TD-05E made landfall very early on the 7th just west of Lazaro Cardenas with maximum winds of about 30 kts, and the circulation dissipated inland over mountainous terrain a few hours later. Heavy rains were dumped at some locations along the coast of Mexico, including more than 5.5 inches at Manzanillo, but no casualties, floods, or other significant impacts have been reported. The official storm reports for some of the individual cyclones are already available on TPC/NHC's website at the following URL: TROPICAL STORM DOUGLAS (TC-04E) 2 - 4 July ------------------------------------------ Douglas was a weak, short-lived tropical storm that formed from an area of low pressure on 1 July about 245 nm southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico. Douglas moved toward the northwest, paralleling the southwestern coast of Mexico where it produced heavy rains. The cyclone reached its maximum intensity of 35 kts at 1200 UTC on 2 July near 17.6N/107.6W. Douglas remained a minimal tropical storm for 24 hours and then began to weaken as it moved over cooler waters. It had become a remnant LOW by 3 July. No impacts resulting from Tropical Storm Douglas have been reported. The Wikipedia report on Tropical Storm Douglas may be accessed at the following link: HURRICANE ELIDA (TC-06E) 12 - 19 July ----------------------------------- Elida was a Category 2 hurricane that did not affect land. It first formed as a tropical depression on 11 July about 350 nm southeast of Acapulco and became a tropical storm later that day. Elida moved west- northwestward on a track roughly parallel to the Pacific Coast of Mexico while gradually strengthening over the next couple of days, becoming a hurricane on 14 July about 290 nm south-southwest of Cabo Corrientes. Elida then turned westward, and very little strengthening occurred over the next two days while the cyclone experienced some easterly vertical wind shear. By the 16th the shear had diminished and Elida began to intensify. The hurricane reached its peak intensity of 90 kts at 1800 UTC on 16 July near 16.9N/117.2W, shortly before the center reached cooler SSTs. Gradual weakening began on the 17th, and Elida weakened to a tropical storm on 18 July and to a depression on the 19th. Lacking organized thunderstorm activity, Elida degenerated to a remnant LOW later that day about 1365 nm west of the southern tip of Baja California. By 21 July the westward-moving LOW had dissipated. No damage or casualties are known to have resulted from Hurricane Elida. The Wikipedia report on Hurricane Elida may be accessed at the following link: HURRICANE FAUSTO (TC-07E) 16 - 22 July ------------------------------------ Fausto developed from a tropical wave that moved westward from the coast of Africa on 5 July. The system showed signs of organization upon reaching the Eastern Pacific on 13 July, and gradual development ensued during the next couple of days. A tropical depression formed on 16 July about 485 nm southeast of Acapulco, and the cyclone reached tropical storm intensity later that day. After an initial westward motion, Fausto moved west-northwestward, becoming a hurricane on 18 July. The hurricane then turned northwestward and "unsteadily" strengthened to an estimated peak intensity of 85 kts at 0600 UTC 21 July near 19.9N/114.9W. Later on the 21st, a turn toward the west-northwest brought Fausto over cooler waters and it quickly weakened to a tropical storm. Additional weakening caused the cyclone to decay to a remnant LOW on 22 July about 650 nm west of the southern tip of Baja California. The LOW dissipated on the 24th about 1045 nm west of the Baja's southern tip. No impacts are known to have resulted from Hurricane Fausto. HURRICANE GENEVIEVE (TC-08E) 21 - 27 July --------------------------------------- Genevieve developed from a tropical wave that almost produced an Atlantic tropical depression near the coast of Nicaragua on 17 July. The wave moved westward into the Pacific on 18 July and the associated cloudiness and thunderstorms showed signs of organization as the system moved westward to the south of Central America and Mexico on 19-20 July. The disturbance evolved into a tropical depression on 21 July about 215 nm south-southwest of Acapulco and intensified into a tropical storm later that day. Over the next few days, Genevieve moved on a westward to west-northwestward track with some fluctuations in strength. It eventually became a hurricane at 25/1200 UTC while located about 500 nm southwest of Cabo San Lucas. Genevieve's peak intensity was 65 kts, and this was maintained for only 18 hours. The cyclone weakened back to a tropical storm early on the 26th as it continued moving westward. It continued to weaken, becoming a depression early on 27 July and dissipating as a tropical cyclone later that day. Genevieve's remnant LOW continued to move westward for several days, and by month's end had become indistinct as it crossed into the Central Pacific region. No damage or casualties are known to have resulted from Hurricane Genevieve. ************************************************************************* NORTHWEST PACIFIC (NWP) - North Pacific Ocean West of Longitude 180 Activity for July: 3 tropical depressions ** 2 typhoons ** - None of these were classified as tropical depressions by JTWC; two were treated as depressions by JMA only, and one by JMA and PAGASA 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). A very special thanks to Michael for the assistance he so reliably provides. 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 July -------------------------------------------- The Northwest Pacific basin was fairly active during July. Five tropical systems were identified as tropical depressions by one agency or another, and two became named storms with both reaching typhoon intensity. Reports on Typhoons Kalmaegi/Helen and Fung-wong/Igme, authored by Kevin Boyle, follow. The two typhoons were similar in that they both crossed the island of Taiwan and made landfall in China. JMA classified a system as a weak tropical depression from 6-9 July east of the Marianas. The disturbance was located near 21N/149E at 0600 UTC 6 July when first referenced in a JMA High Seas Bulletin. The depression remained stationary in this vicinity until early on the 8th when it began to move east-northeastward. By the time of the final mention of the system at 09/0600 UTC it had moved to near 27N/157E. This weak LLCC formed in a band of convection along the southeastern periphery of a large monsoon gyre. JTWC classified the disturbance as a 'poor' area on the 6th, briefly upgrading the development potential to 'fair' at 08/0600 UTC when it had shown increased organization. The strengthening, however, was brief, and by 1700 UTC 8 July the convection had largely dissipated. No track was included for this system in the companion cyclone tracks file. PAGASA initiated warnings on a circulation in the South China Sea near 13N/118E at 0000 UTC on 4 July, naming it Tropical Depression Gener. Gener moved west-northwestward and had exited PAGASA's AOR by 05/0000 UTC. During this time JMA classified the system as only a low-pressure area, while JTWC included the disturbance in their STWOs as a 'poor' area. A TCFA was issued at 07/0130 UTC with the circulation center estimated to be near 20.8N/113.2E. A QuikScat pass at 06/2221 UTC noted winds of 15-20 kts near the core while stronger winds of 25 kts were located 2 to 3 degrees from the center--a typical monsoon depression structure. JMA abruptly upgraded the system to a 30-kt depression at 07/0600 UTC, but six hours later the center was moving inland into China just east of Hong Kong. Finally, JMA referenced another disturbance as a tropical depression from 13/0600 to 15/0600 UTC. At 13/0600 UTC the system was centered near 22N/138E and remained quasi-stationary near that location for about 24 hours. Early on the 14th it began to drift westward, reaching 24N/132E by 15/0000 UTC. Only JMA classified this system as a tropical depression, and it was elevated to 30-kt status for only two warning cycles beginning at 14/0600 UTC. JTWC elevated the potential for development to 'fair' on 13 July, but downgraded it back to 'poor' on the 14th. I did prepare a tabular track for this depression due to its being elevated briefly to 30 kts by JMA. TYPHOON KALMAEGI (TC-08W / TY 0807 / HELEN) 12 - 21 JULY ---------------------------------------------- Kalmaegi: contributed by North Korea, means 'sea-gull' A. Synoptic History ------------------- The first mention of the pre-Kalmaegi disturbance was in JTWC's STWO issued at 0600 UTC 11 July when it was located approximately 355 nm southeast of Taipei, Taiwan. JMA first began classification of a tropical depression at 12/0600 UTC. The system was initially slow to develop due to the close proximity of dry air, but following an increase in the deep convection, a TCFA was issued at 13/0930 UTC. The first warning on Tropical Depression 08W was issued at 14/0600 UTC with the system moving slowly west-southwestwards between the subtropical and near-equatorial ridges. Only slow intensification occurred over the following 24 hours as the storm moved on a rather slow hairpin, and abruptly turned towards the north. TD-08W was upgraded to a 35-kt tropical storm at 15/1200 UTC, located approximately 245 nm northeast of Manila, Philippines. JMA raised their 10-min avg MSW to 35 kts six hours later and assigned the name Kalmaegi. PAGASA began releasing bulletins at 13/1800 UTC and named the system Helen. Steady intensification occurred on 16 July as the tropical cyclone accelerated toward the north or north-northwest on a path towards Taiwan. JTWC upgraded Kalmaegi to an 80-kt typhoon at 17/0000 UTC, positioning the centre approximately 170 nm south-southeast of Taipei. At the same time, JMA raised their 10-min avg MSW to 70 kts. The storm reached its peak intensity of 90 kts six hours later. (JMA estimated a maximum intensity of 75 kts with a minimum CP of 960 hPa.) Typhoon Kalmaegi made landfall over northeastern Taiwan on 17 July and emerged over the Taiwan Strait early the next day. Weakening, it was lowered to a 55-kt tropical storm at 18/0000 UTC. The system moved over the coast of China at 18/1000 UTC about 30 nm east-northeast of Luoyuan with the MSW estimated at 45 kts. JTWC issued their final warning at 18/1800 UTC. Tropical Storm Kalmaegi (JMA 35 kts, 10 min-avg) turned north and passed across eastern China on 19 July and into the Yellow Sea the next day. Kalmaegi was declared extratropical over North Korea on 20 July. JMA issued the final warning at 21/1800 UTC with the system centred in the Sea of Japan and moving northeastward. B. Damage and Casualties ------------------------ According to the online wikipedia report, Typhoon Kalmaegi left 19 people dead in Taiwan, and caused an estimated US$16 million of damage to agriculture. An estimated 115,000 people lost power on the island, primarily in Tainan, Nantou County, and in Taichung County. Rainfall amounts in some mountainous areas of Tainan County in southern Taiwan topped 1100 mm. The storm caused NT$300 million worth of damage and destroyed about 5,100 hectares of orchards and crops. Two persons were reported dead, and one person injured, in the Philippines, according to the NDCC. Damages to infrastructure and agriculture were estimated at nearly 5.7 million pesos and 1.3 million pesos, respectively. A total of 31,129 people were affected. There were no reports of damages or casualties from China as a result of Kalmaegi. However, 360,000 people fled coastal and low-lying areas to safety. The Wikipedia report on Kalmaegi may be accessed at the following link: (Report written by Kevin Boyle) TYPHOON FUNG-WONG (TC-09W / TY 0808 / IGME) 23 - 30 JULY --------------------------------------------- Fung-wong: contributed by Hong Kong, means 'Phoenix', and is also the name of a peak in Hong Kong. A. Introduction --------------- Typhoon Fung-wong was the second tropical cyclone to strike Taiwan and China during the month of July, following the arrival of Typhoon Kalmaegi ten days earlier. Fung-wong was a wet typhoon, bringing high rainfall totals and leading to widespread flooding over Taiwan and Fujian and Zhejiang Provinces of China. Three casualties were reported, two in Taiwan, and one from mainland China. Four people were killed in the Philippines as a result of the southwest monsoon induced by Fung-wong. B. Synoptic History ------------------- Typhoon Fung-wong formed from a TUTT-induced disturbance approximately 665 nm east-southeast of Okinawa, Japan, and was initially mentioned in JTWA's STWO issued at 2000 UTC 20 July. The system gradually organized while drifting slowly westward, and became the subject of a TCFA at 24/0600 UTC. At this time the disturbance was embedded in a monsoon depression with the strongest winds and virtually all the deep convection over the southern semicircle. JMA began issuing warnings on a tropical depression at 23/0000 UTC. The first warning on Tropical Depression 09W was released at 24/1200 UTC. TD-09W intensified as it tracked steadily westwards, and was upgraded to a tropical storm twelve hours later. JMA assigned the name Fung-wong after that agency upped their 10-min avg MSW to 35-kts at 25/0600 UTC. PAGASA started issuing advisories at 24/0000 UTC, dubbing the system Igme. Still tracking westwards, Tropical Storm Fung-wong was upgraded to a 65-kt typhoon at 26/1200 UTC while located approximately 345 nm southeast of Taipei, Taiwan. Six hours later, JMA elevated the storm to typhoon status. Fung-wong continued to intensify as it moved west- northwestward along the perimeter of a subtropical ridge, reaching a maximum intensity of 95 kts at 27/1800 UTC. The cyclone made landfall over Taiwan with the MSW estimated at 85 kts around 28/0000 UTC at a point about 85 nm south of Taipei. Drifting northwestward, Fung-wong crossed the Taiwan Strait and weakened to tropical storm intensity before moving over the coast of mainland China south of Fuzhou at 28/1500 UTC. JTWC ceased issuing warnings at 28/1800 UTC. The tropical cyclone continued to track further inland over China with a MSW of 45 kts (JMA 10-min avg). JMA issued its last advisory at 29/1200 UTC with the system dissipating over eastern China. Typhoon Fung-wong was the second of two successive tropical cyclones to cross the island of Taiwan and then affect China during the month of July. C. Damage and Casualties ------------------------ Typhoon Fung-wong brought heavy rain which resulted in flooding in eastern Taiwan. According to the online Wikipedia report, one casualty was reported from China with six others injured. The Wikipedia report on Typhoon Fung-wong may be accessed at the following link: (Report written by Kevin Boyle) ************************************************************************* NORTH INDIAN OCEAN (NIO) - Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea Activity for July: No tropical cyclones ************************************************************************* SOUTHWEST INDIAN OCEAN (SWI) - South Indian Ocean West of Longitude 90E Activity for July: No tropical cyclones ************************************************************************* NORTHWEST AUSTRALIA/SOUTHEAST INDIAN OCEAN (AUW) - From 90E to 135E Activity for July: No tropical cyclones ************************************************************************* NORTHEAST AUSTRALIA/CORAL SEA (AUE) - From 135E to 160E Activity for July: No tropical cyclones ************************************************************************* SOUTH PACIFIC (SPA) - South Pacific Ocean East of Longitude 160E Activity for July: No tropical cyclones ************************************************************************* 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: Information regarding how to interpret the coded reconnaissance messages may be found at the following URL: 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: Links to tropical products archives for earlier years are available at the following URL: JTWC warnings for past storms are archived on the NRL Monterrey website: 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: 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: (2) For the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea: (4) Cyclone Tracking Information -------------------------------- There is a U. S. Navy site that tracks tropical cyclones at 6-hourly intervals which often includes pre and post-advisory positions. The link to the site is: Steve Young has compiled many of these tracks onto a single webpage which is very user-friendly: 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, and Chris Landsea): 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: TROPICAL CYCLONE REPORTS AVAILABLE JTWC now has available on its website the Annual Tropical Cyclone Report (ATCR) for 2007 (2006-2007 season for the Southern Hemisphere). ATCRs for earlier years are available also. The URL is: Also, TPC/NHC has available on its webpage nice "technicolor" tracking charts for the 2007 Atlantic and Eastern North Pacific tropical cyclones; also, storm reports for all the 2007 Atlantic and Eastern North Pacific cyclones are now available, as well as track charts and reports on storms from earlier years. The URL is: 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 (Northwest Pacific) E-mail: newchapelobservatory@btinternet.com ************************************************************************* ************************************************************************* Posted: 01.01.09 / Typhoon2000.ph, Typhoon2000.com