MONTHLY GLOBAL TROPICAL CYCLONE SUMMARY

 

                                FEBRUARY, 2007

 

  (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 FROM THE AUTHOR - PLEASE READ **********

 

     The tropical cyclone reports for the Southwest Indian Ocean basin this

  month have a new look.  The idea of following a structured template to

  present basic information was suggested by Matthew Saxby of Queanbeyan,

  New South Wales.  I have taken Matthew's idea, modified it some, and sent

  it around to several persons to be vetted.  The response I've received to

  this new format has been very favorable.   Barring some unforeseen

  complication, beginning with the March, 2007, edition, all the tropical

  cyclone reports will be constructed in this new format.

 

     As can be seen from the Southwest Indian cyclone reports below, the

  new format is as follows:

 

  (1) Section A - General Information

 

      This section will contain salient information about the cyclone in

      a very structured format, allowing for quick comparison between

      cyclones.  Dates and intensities are based upon the operational

      tracks prepared by the author.

 

  (2) Section B - Synoptic History

 

      This section will contain a narrative description of the origin of

      the cyclone and a general description of its track history.   To 

      realize the full benefit of the summaries, readers should use this

      section in conjunction with the tabular tracks prepared by the

      author and the track graphic maps prepared by John Diebolt.   (The

      Wikipedia reports also contain non-annotated track graphics.)   In

      order for me to keep producing the summaries and to expedite the

      production time required, the track description will not be as

      detailed as in the past.  There will be no attempt to describe every

      twist and turn of the track or every 5 or 10-kt fluctuation in

      intensity.

 

  (3) Section C - Meteorological Data

 

      This section will be pretty much as before, reporting on all the

      significant observations I have available (and occasionally some

      not-so-significant ones).

 

  (4) Section D - Damage and Casualties

 

      This section will contain the same level of detail as before,

      relying heavily on links and the online Wikipedia reports.

 

  (5) Section E - Additional Discussion

 

      This section will contain any additional discussion related to

      differing intensity estimates, or any other items deemed to be of

      general interest.

     

 

  SPECIAL NOTE #2:  Very happily, John Diebolt of Tucson, Arizona, now has

  his tropical cyclone website up and running again and has begun once more

  to produce graphic images depicting the tracks of all tropical systems

  for which I prepare a tabular track in the companion cyclone tracks file.

  These can be accessed at the following URL:

 

  http://www.tropicalcyclone2005.com/

 

  Scroll down the chart to the month of interest and click on the green

  bar under "Operational Track Image" for the desired system.

 

  The tabular track of positions and intensities may also be obtained

  from the above website, or from the other archival sites listed in

  the Author's Note in the closing section of this summary.

 

 

  SPECIAL NOTE #3:  Short reports with satellite pictures and small-scale

  maps for all the Southern Hemisphere systems may be found at the

  following link:

 

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006-07_Southern_Hemisphere_tropical_cyclone_season

 

  *************************************************************************

 

                             FEBRUARY HIGHLIGHTS

 

   --> Significant tropical cyclone outbreak in Southwest Indian Ocean

   --> Gulf of Carpentaria cyclone affects northeastern Australia

 

  *************************************************************************

 

                    !!!!!!!!!! EXTRA FEATURE !!!!!!!!!!

 

                        2007 TROPICAL CYCLONE NAMES

 

           TROPICAL CYCLONE NAMES for the NORTHWEST PACIFIC BASIN

 

     Beginning in 2000 tropical storms and typhoons forming in the North

  Pacific west of the Dateline are assigned names by JMA taken from a

  new list of Asian names contributed by fourteen nations and territories

  from the western Pacific and eastern Asia.   Names are not allocated

  in alphabetical order and the majority are not personal names--instead

  names of animals, plants, fictional characters, descriptive adjectives,

  places--even foods--are utilized.     The entire list consists of 140

  names and all names will be used before any are repeated.    The last

  name assigned in 2006 was Trami in December.   As of 28 March no

  tropical cyclones have been named in 2007.

 

     The next 36 names on the list are (** indicates name has already

  been assigned in 2007):

 

       Kong-rey          Danas             Kajiki            Halong

       Yutu              Nari              Faxai             Nakri

       Toraji            Wipha             Peipah            Fengshen

       Man-yi            Francisco         Tapah             Kalmaegi

       Usagi             Lekima            Mitag             Fung-wong

       Pabuk             Krosa             Hagibis           Kammuri

       Wutip             Haiyan            Noguri            Phanfone

       Sepat             Podul             Rammasun          Vongfong

       Fitow             Lingling          Matmo             Nuri

 

     Since 1963 PAGASA has independently named tropical cyclones forming

  in the Philippines' AOR--from 115E to 135E and from 5N to 25N (except

  for a portion of the northwestern corner of the above region).  Even

  though the Philippines contributed ten names to the international list

  of typhoon names, PAGASA still continues to assign their own names for

  local use within the Philippines.  It is felt that familiar names are

  more easily remembered in the rural areas and that having a PAGASA-

  assigned name helps to underscore the fact that the cyclone is within

  PAGASA's AOR and potentially a threat to the Philippines.    Another

  consideration may be PAGASA's desire to assign a name when a system is

  first classified as a tropical depression.    Since tropical and/or

  monsoon depressions can bring very heavy rainfall to the nation which

  often results in disastrous flooding, the weather service feels that

  assigning a name helps to enhance public attention given to a system.

 

     Beginning with 2001 PAGASA began using new sets of cyclone names. 

  These do not all end in "ng" as did the older names.  Four sets of 25

  names will be rotated annually; thus, the set for 2007 will be re-used

  in 2011.   In case more than 25 systems are named in one season, an

  auxiliary set will be used.   PAGASA names for 2007 are (** indicates

  name has already been assigned in 2007):

 

           Amang               Juaning             Ramon

           Bebeng              Kabayan             Sendong

           Chedeng             Lando               Tisoy

           Dodong              Mina                Ursula

           Egay                Nonoy               Viring

           Falcon              Onyok               Weng

           Goring              Pedring             Yoyoy

           Hanna               Quiel               Zigzag

           Ineng

 

     In the unlikely event that the list is exhausted, the following

  names would be allocated as needed:  Abe, Berto, Charo, Dado, Estoy,

  Felion, Gening, Herman, Irma, and Jaime.

 

 

                     NORTH INDIAN OCEAN CYCLONE NAMES

 

     After several years of planning and working out implementation

  details, the RSMC for the North Indian Ocean basin--the Indian

  Meteorological Department--began naming tropical cyclones in that

  region on an experimental basis in the autumn of 2004.

 

     The procedure for allocating names is similar to that used in the

  Northwest Pacific basin.  All the member nations--eight in this case--

  submitted eight names each.    The 64 names were arranged in eight

  columns of eight names, ordered by the contributing nations in alpha-

  betical order, just as is done in the Northwest Pacific.  Potential

  cyclonic storms for 2007 include (** indicates name has already been

  assigned):

 

           Akash                 Nargis                Bijli

           Gonu                  Abe                   Aila

           Yemyin                Khai Muk              Phyan

           Sidr                  Nisha                 Ward

 

***************************************************************************

 

                             ACTIVITY BY BASINS

 

  ATLANTIC (ATL) - North Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico

 

  Activity for February:  No tropical cyclones

 

  *************************************************************************

 

  NORTHEAST PACIFIC (NEP) - North Pacific Ocean East of Longitude 180

 

  Activity for February:  No tropical cyclones

 

  *************************************************************************

 

  NORTHWEST PACIFIC (NWP) - North Pacific Ocean West of Longitude 180

 

  Activity for February:  No tropical cyclones

 

  *************************************************************************

 

  NORTH INDIAN OCEAN (NIO) - Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea

 

  Activity for February:  No tropical cyclones

 

  *************************************************************************

 

  SOUTHWEST INDIAN OCEAN (SWI) - South Indian Ocean West of Longitude 90E

 

  Activity for February:  1 severe tropical storm

                          1 tropical cyclone

                          3 intense tropical cyclones **

 

  ** - one of these formed late in January and continued to near the

       middle of February

 

 

                          Sources of Information

                          ----------------------

 

     The primary sources of tracking and intensity information for

  Southwest Indian Ocean tropical cyclones are the warnings issued by

  the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre on La Reunion Island, part of

  Meteo France (MFR), and the Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre

  for the basin.    However, tropical cyclones in this region are named

  by the Sub-regional Tropical Cyclone Advisory Centres in Mauritius and

  Madagascar with longitude 55E being the demarcation line between their

  respective areas of naming responsibility.  The La Reunion centre only

  advises these agencies regarding the intensity of tropical systems. 

  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 MFR's 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.

 

 

            Southwest Indian Ocean Tropical Activity for February

            -----------------------------------------------------

 

     As the month of February opened, Intense Tropical Cyclone Dora was

  slowly gathering strength as it pursued a south-southwesterly track

  which carried it near Rodrigues Island and then well to the east of

  Mauritius and La Reunion.  Dora peaked at 100 kts on the 3rd while

  northeast of Rodrigues and was the second cyclone of the 2006-2007

  season to reach the intense tropical cyclone threshold of 90 kts.

  The complete report on Dora may be found in the January summary.

 

     Dora heralded a rather remarkable outbreak of tropical cyclone

  activity in the Southwest Indian basin.  During the month four named

  tropical storms developed with all but one reaching tropical cyclone

  status.  Indeed, Severe Tropical Storm Enok came very close to reaching

  hurricane intensity, and may have actually done so, at least in terms

  of a 1-min avg MSW.   Intense Tropical Cyclone Favio followed a long

  trajectory from west of Diego Garcia southwestward to just south of

  Madagascar, thence curving to the west-northwest and striking the

  nation of Mozambique as an intense tropical cyclone.  The long-lived

  Gamede, also another intense tropical cyclone, moved along a long path

  from well to the southeast of Diego Garcia to a point off the north-

  eastern coast of Madagascar.  From there it made a sharp bend to the

  south and subsequently tracked southward roughly parallel to the east

  coast of the big island.  Finally, Tropical Cyclone Humba, which actually

  formed in Perth's AOR, followed a southerly track through the eastern

  portion of the basin.   Reports on all four named storms follow.

 

 

 

                        SEVERE TROPICAL STORM ENOK

                             (MFR-08 / TC-13S)

                              6 - 11 February

              ----------------------------------------------

 

  A. General Information

  ----------------------

 

  1. Identification

 

     a. RSMC - Meteo France La Reunion (MFR)

     b. MFR  - Tropical Disturbance 08

     c. JTWC - Tropical Cyclone 13S

     d. NAME - Enok (named by Mauritius at Feb 09/1200 UTC; name

               contributed to the regional list by Namibia)

 

  2. Overview

 

     a. Basins Affected:  Southwest Indian Ocean (SWI)

     b. Dates:            6 - 11 February, 2007

     c. Max Sust Winds:   60 kts (10-min avg per MFR)

                          55 kts (1-min avg per JTWC) (See Section D)

     d. Min Cent Press:   980 hPa (estimate per MFR)

 

  3. Beginning of Track:  Feb 06/0000 UTC, near 18.6S/50.9E, or about

     200 nm east of Antananarivo, Madagascar, as referenced in a JTWC

     satellite bulletin.

 

  4. Peak Intensity: Feb 10/1000 UTC, near 15.8S/58.8E, or about 275 nm

     north-northeast of Mauritius, or very near Ile Saint-Brandon.

 

  5. Size: At its peak Tropical Storm Enok was a rather compact storm

     with the maximum gale radius being on the order of around 50-70 nm.

 

  6. End of Track:  Feb 11/1800 UTC, near 23.4S/64.6E, or about 250 nm

     south-southeast of Rodrigues Island.

 

 

  B. Synoptic History

  -------------------

 

  1. Origin:  The earliest known (to the author) reference to the

     pre-Enok system was a satellite bulletin issued by JTWC at 0000 UTC

     on 6 February.  The system must have developed fairly rapidly--at

     06/1000 UTC a TCFA was issued by the same agency as a area of deep

     convection was persisting over a well-defined LLCC in the presence

     of low vertical shear and with excellent equatorward and poleward

     outflow channels being provided by an upper-level anticyclone.

 

  2. General Description of Track:  System formed just east of northern

     Madagascar, moved northward parallel to coast during its formative

     stages, then began to move east-northeastward and eventually eastward

     as it developed.  After reaching tropical storm status, Enok began to

     accelerate east-southeastward and ultimately south-southeastward as

     it weakened.  Around 0300 UTC 10 February Enok's center passed only

     about 8 nm to the northeast of tiny Saint-Brandon Island, and at

     1800 UTC passed to within 25 nm north-northeast of Rodrigues Island.

     The primary factor contributing to the storm's somewhat unusual track

     was the strong gradient flow between a near-equatorial ridge to the

     northeast and troughing extending northwestward from the remnants of

     Tropical Cyclone Dora to the south.   Enok was already weakening as

     it passed near Rodrigues and subsequently weakened rapidly due to the

     effects of increased vertical shear and advection of dry, stable mid-

     tropospheric air.

 

 

  C. Meteorological Data

  ----------------------

 

     Karl Hoarau has sent me some observations recorded on the small island

  of Saint-Brandon (WMO 61986, 16.5S/59.6E, Elev 3 m above MSL).

 

     At 10/0100 UTC the station recorded 10-min avg winds of 44 kts with

  a SLP of 988 hPa.  At 0200 UTC the 10-min avg wind was still 44 kts with

  a SLP of 982 hPa.  At the latter hour the center of Enok was located

  about 8 nm northeast of the island.  Between 0200 and 0300 UTC, the SLP

  rose 16 hPa to 998 hPa.   The peak gust recorded on the island (exact

  time unknown) was 87.5 kts.

 

 

  D. Damage and Casualties

  ------------------------

 

     No reports of damage or casualties resulting from Tropical Storm Enok

  have been received.

 

 

  E. Additional Discussion

  ------------------------

 

     According to the track file prepared by the author, based primarily

  upon the warnings received from RSMC La Reunion (MFR), Enok was upgraded

  from a 30-kt tropical depression to a 50-kt severe tropical storm at

  1800 UTC 9 February.  However, the system was actually named by the

  Sub-Regional Tropical Cyclone Advisory Centre in Mauritius at 1200 UTC.

  Dvorak classifications from AFWA and JTWC at this time were T3.0/3.0,

  but were still T2.5/2.5 from MFR and SAB.  However, the storm during

  this time was intensifying rather rapidly, and by 1800 UTC MFR's rating

  had jumped to T3.5/3.5.

 

     Karl Hoarau has also provided an analysis of Enok's intensity.  Karl

  feels that the system had reached tropical storm intensity (1-min avg

  basis) by 09/0600 UTC and hurricane intensity (1-min avg basis) at

  09/2100 UTC.  A microwave image of Enok as early at 09/1611 UTC reveals

  an eye-like feature, and the 87.5-kt gust recorded on the island suggests

  a 1-min avg MSW of 70 kts, or a 10-min avg wind of 62 kts.   In Karl's

  opinion Enok likely reached a peak of 75-kts (1-min avg) around 0300 UTC

  on 10 February before beginning to weaken.

 

     Following are the MSW (1-min avg) estimates sent by Dr. Hoarau:

 

  Feb 09-0600 UTC:   35 kts

  Feb 09-0900 UTC:   35 kts

  Feb 09-1200 UTC:   45 kts

  Feb 09-1500 UTC:   50 kts

  Feb 09-1800 UTC:   60 kts

  Feb 09-2100 UTC:   65 kts

  Feb 10-0000 UTC:   70 kts

  Feb 10-0300 UTC:   75 kts

  Feb 10-0600 UTC:   70 kts

 

  (Report written by Gary Padgett)

 

 

 

                      INTENSE TROPICAL CYCLONE FAVIO

                             (MFR-09 / TC 14S)

                             12 - 23 February

            --------------------------------------------------

 

  A. General Information

  ----------------------

 

  1. Identification

 

     a. RSMC - Meteo France La Reunion (MFR)

     b. MFR  - Tropical Disturbance 09

     c. JTWC - Tropical Cyclone 14S

     d. NAME - Favio (named by Mauritius at Feb 15/0600 UTC; name

               contributed to the regional list by the Seychelles)

 

  2. Overview

 

     a. Basins Affected:  Southwest Indian Ocean (SWI)

     b. Dates:            12 - 23 February, 2007

     c. Max Sust Winds:   100 kts (10-min avg per MFR)

                          125 kts (1-min avg per JTWC)

     d. Min Cent Press:   930 hPa (estimate per MFR)

 

  3. Beginning of Track:  Feb 12/0000 UTC, near 10.3S/70.0E, or about

     225 nm southwest of Diego Garcia, as referenced in initial bulletin

     issued by MFR.

 

  4. Peak Intensity:  Feb 21/0000 UTC, near 24.5S/39.9E, or about 400 nm

     southeast of Beira, Mozambique.  (It should be noted that MFR's MSW

     was at 100 kts from 20/1200 through 21/1200 UTC.)

 

  5. Size: At its peak Tropical Cyclone Favio was an intense but fairly

     small system with the maximum gale radius being on the order of

     70-90 nm.

 

  6. End of Track:  Feb 23/1200 UTC, near 19.1S/32.6E, or inland about

     250 km west-northwest of Beira over western Mozambique.

 

 

  B. Synoptic History

  -------------------

 

  1. Origin:  The earliest known (to the author) reference to the pre-Favio

     system was the first bulletin issued by MFR at 0000 UTC 12 February.

     Unfortunately, I do not have available the STWO issued by JTWC for

     that date.  The STWO for 13 February noted that an area of convection

     was located approximately 295 nm south-southwest of Diego Garcia.

     Convection was flaring over a consolidating LLCC in the presence of

     favorable outflow and low vertical shear.   Deep convective bursts

     continued as the environment improved and a TCFA was issued at 2100

     UTC followed by JTWC's first warning at 1200 UTC 14 February. 

     However, another 18 hours elapsed before the system was named Favio

     by the Meteorological Services of Mauritius.

 

  2. General Description of Track:  Favio's track was long and rather

     unusual, being (as far as can be discerned right now), the first

     known tropical cyclone to move westward south of the island of

     Madagascar and strike the African mainland as an intense tropical

     cyclone.  From its origin on the 12th a few hundred miles to the

     southwest of Diego Garcia, Favio moved on a remarkably steady

     southwesterly track which took it less than a hundred miles north

     of Rodrigues Island on the 15th and then a few hundred miles east

     of the Mascarenes on the 16th as it was steered by a large subtropical

     ridge to the southeast.

 

     The ridge began to build westward, eventually merging with a ridge

     anchored over South Africa.  The tropical storm obligingly turned

     to a westerly track and passed less than a hundred miles south of

     the southern tip of Madagascar on the 19th.  After Favio had entered

     the Mozambique Channel and begun to strengthen, the African ridge

     became the dominant steering mechanism and guided the cyclone on

     a west-northwesterly course which took it inland on the southern

     Mozambique coast on 22 February.

 

 

  C. Meteorological Data

  ----------------------

 

  1. Rodrigues Island:  The center of (then) Tropical Storm Favio passed

     about 80 nm west of the island on 15 February.  Station FIMR/619880

     (19.67S/63.40E, 59.1 m above MSL) reported peak winds of ENE 32 kts,

     gusting to 49 kts at 15/0900 UTC.   A peak gust of 49 kts was also

     reported at 1000 UTC.

 

  2. The small, tight center of Tropical Cyclone Favio passed about 25 nm

     south of buoy 56511 which reported a SLP of 974 hPa at 20/0100 UTC.

     The buoy was likely on the northern edge of the northern eyewall,

     which, if true, would suggest a CP of around 955 hPa at the time.

     (The estimated MSW at the time was 80 kts.)

 

  3. Landfall in Mozambique was very close to station FQVL which was

     located in the northern eyewall.  The station ceased reporting after

     the pressure had fallen to 992 hPa, which was about two hours before

     the center made its closest approach.

 

     The above observations were sent to the author by Derrick Herndon.  A

  special thanks to Derrick for sending the information.

 

 

  D. Damage and Casualties

  ------------------------

 

     Striking Mozambique exactly seven years to the day after Eline, the

  last intense tropical cyclone to strike the country, Favio left a trail

  of destruction and compounded problems for the nation which was still

  suffering the aftermath of flooding during the previous month that had

  left 120,000 homeless.   The cyclone initially struck the Bazaruto

  Islands, noted for resorts.   Favio made landfall near the resort city

  of Vilanculos, destroying thousands of homes and damaging many other

  public buildings, including hospitals, schools and a prison.  Around

  600 prisoners escaped when the jail was destroyed.

 

     News reports indicate that four persons died in the cyclone with

  scores injured.  Electrical services were disrupted, and many roads

  were blocked by fallen trees, hindering emergency vehicles from easily

  reaching those needing help.  Many fields full of crops such as cassava

  and maize were washed away.  It was feared that the rains attending

  Favio would exacerbate the flooding which had caused much misery in

  the country during the previous weeks.

 

  (Report written by Gary Padgett)

 

 

 

                      INTENSE TROPICAL CYCLONE GAMEDE

                             (MFR-10 / TC-15S)

                           20 February - 4 March

            ---------------------------------------------------

 

  A. General Information

  ----------------------

 

  1. Identification

 

     a. RSMC - Meteo France La Reunion (MFR)

     b. MFR  - Tropical Disturbance 10

     c. JTWC - Tropical Cyclone 15S

     d. NAME - Gamede (named by Mauritius at Feb 21/0600 UTC; name

               contributed to the regional list by South Africa)

 

  2. Overview

 

     a. Basins Affected:  Southwest Indian Ocean (SWI)

     b. Dates:            20 February - 4 March, 2007

     c. Max Sust Winds:   95 kts (10-min avg per MFR)

                          105 kts (1-min avg per JTWC)

     d. Min Cent Press:   935 hPa (estimate per MFR)

 

  3. Beginning of Track:  Feb 20/1200 UTC, near 14.8S/74.8E, or about

     475 nm south-southeast of Diego Garcia, as referenced in initial

     bulletin issued by MFR.

 

  4. Peak Intensity:  Feb 25/1800 UTC, near 18.5S/53.9E, or about 225 nm

     west-northwest of Mauritius.  (It should be noted that MFR's MSW

     was at 95 kts from 25/1800 through 26/1200 UTC.)

 

  5. Size:  At its peak Tropical Cyclone Gamede was a rather large tropical

     cyclone with gales extending outward 150 nm from the center in all

     directions and up to 250 nm in the southern semicircle.

 

  6. End of Track:  Mar 04/1200 UTC, near 32.4S/49.7E, or about 750 nm

     south-southwest of Reunion Island.

 

 

  B. Synoptic History

  -------------------

 

  1. Origin:  Gamede's origin seems to lie in an area of convection which

     developed on 19 February about 610 nm southeast of Diego Garcia.  A

     weak but well-defined LLCC was in evidence with some associated

     convective banding north of the center and some deep convection

     flaring over the center.  By the 20th the system was situated beneath

     an upper-level anticyclone which was providing low vertical shear and

     favorable eastward and equatorward outflow.  MFR initiated warnings

     on the system and JTWC upped the development potential to 'fair'.

     Convective organization continued to improve and JTWC issued a TCFA

     at 20/2000 UTC, followed by the first warning at 21/0600 UTC.  At

     the same time, Mauritius and MFR upgraded the system to tropical storm

     status with Mauritius assigning the name Gamede.

 

  2. General Description of Track:  During its early stages Gamede moved

     initially westward, then west-southwestward as it was steered by a

     strong mid-level subtropical ridge to the south.  The cyclone had

     become quasi-stationary by late on the 25th due to the competing

     steering influences of the subtropical ridge anchored south of

     Madagascar and a near-equatorial ridge to the east-northeast of the

     storm.  Gamede was at its peak intensity at this time, but began

     to slowly weaken, in part due to a decrease in local SSTs brought

     about by upwelling while the cyclone was essentially stationary.

     By early on the 27th Gamede had embarked on a south-southwesterly

     track as the near-equatorial ridge built southward and a mid-latitude

     trough induced a weakness in the subtropical ridge.

 

     The motion toward the south-southwest, roughly parallel to and about

     200 nm east of the coastline of Madagascar, continued as Gamede

     continued to slowly weaken.  Shear began to increase on 1 March as

     the system encountered stronger mid-latitude flow, and Gamede was

     classified as an extratropical cyclone at 1200 UTC on 2 March.  As

     Gamede underwent extratropical transition, a subtropical ridge began

     to build eastward from South Africa, causing the southerly motion

     to slow and eventually come to a halt.  MFR issued their final warning

     at 04/1200 UTC with the gale quasi-stationary about 750 nm to the

     south-southwest of Reunion Island.

 

 

  C. Meteorological Data

  ----------------------

 

  1. According to some information received from Derrick Herndon, Gamede

     passed 50 nm north of buoy 14926 around 1200 UTC on 22 February.

     The buoy reported a SLP of 985 hPa from a position estimated to be

     a little south of the southern eyewall.  This would suggest a CP of

     around 970 hPa.  Environmental pressures in the area were running

     around 1008 hPa, resulting in a delta of 38 hPa--in good agreement

     with latest AMSU estimates.

 

  2. The eye of Gamede passed over Saint-Brandon Island around 1100 UTC

     on 23 February with a minimum SLP of 960 hPa being recorded.

 

  3. Philippe Caroff, Chief Forecaster at RSMC La Reunion, sent some data

     describing record rainfall produced on the island by Gamede.  The

     cyclone's center never approached closer than 125 nm to the island,

     but remained within 215 nm of Reunion for more than 90 hours.  The

     large extension of Gamede induced persistent heavy rainfall in the

     mountains on the island.  While peak rainfall intensities were never

     extreme, accumulated totals were very impressive, exceeding 2500 mm

     in four days.

 

     Some world records fell.  The 72-hour record rainfall of 3240 mm

     established in January, 1980, during Tropical Cyclone Hyacinthe

     was beaten twice with 3929 mm at Commerson's Crater (2286 metres

     elevation) and with 3264 mm recorded at Hell Bourg (a village at

     914 metres).

 

     Other records for periods ranging up to 9 days were also beaten by

     Commerson's Crater values:

 

     4 days - 4869 mm

     5 days - 4979 mm

     6 days - 5075 mm

     7 days - 5400 mm

     8 days - 5510 mm

     9 days - 5512 mm

 

     In addition, the previous 4-day rainfall record at Hell Bourg of

     3551 mm was eclipsed by a 96-hour total of 3633 mm associated with

     Tropical Cyclone Gamede.

 

 

  D. Damage and Casualties

  ------------------------

 

     The heavy rains on Reunion Island led to some flood damage with one

  woman being reported missing after her car was swept away by flood

  waters.  A bridge collapsed near the southern town of Saint-Louis with

  the cost estimated at 20 million euros (US$26.32 million).

 

     No other reports of damage or casualties associated with Intense

  Tropical Cyclone Gamede have been received.

 

  (Report written by Gary Padgett)

 

 

 

                         TROPICAL CYCLONE HUMBA

                            (MFR-11 / TC-16S)

                            20 - 28 February

               ------------------------------------------

 

  A. General Information

  ----------------------

 

  1. Identification

 

     a. RSMC - BoM Perth/Meteo France La Reunion (MFR)

     b. MFR  - Tropical Disturbance 11 (West of 90E)

     c. JTWC - Tropical Cyclone 16S

     d. NAME - Humba (named by Mauritius at Feb 23/0600 UTC; name

               contributed to the regional list by Tanzania)

 

  2. Overview

 

     a. Basins Affected:  Northwest Australia/Southeast Indian Ocean (AUW)

                          Southwest Indian Ocean (SWI)

     b. Dates:            20 - 28 February, 2007

     c. Max Sust Winds:   75 kts (10-min avg per MFR)

                          70 kts (1-min avg per JTWC)

     d. Min Cent Press:   960 hPa (estimate per MFR)

 

  3. Beginning of Track:  Feb 20/2100 UTC, near 10.0S/92.0E, or about

     350 nm west-northwest of the Cocos Islands, as referenced in initial

     gale warning issued by BoM Perth.

 

  4. Peak Intensity:  Feb 25/0600 UTC, near 19.6S/79.0E, or about 800 nm

     south-southeast of Diego Garcia.  (It should be noted that MFR's

     MSW was at 75 kts from 25/0600 through 25/1800 UTC.)

 

  5. Size:  Based on MFR's warnings, at its peak Tropical Cyclone Humba

     was a somewhat compact system with a gale radius of 60 nm.  However,

     JTWC's warnings described a somewhat larger cyclone with gale radii

     in the various quadrants averaging slightly over 100 nm.

 

  6. End of Track:  Feb 28/1200 UTC, near 29.8S/78.3E, or about 1400 nm

     south-southeast of Diego Garcia.

 

 

  B. Synoptic History

  -------------------

 

  1. Origin:  The daily Tropical Cyclone Outlook issued by BoM Perth on

     19 February mentioned a tropical LOW which was located about 170 nm

     northwest of the Cocos Islands.  The development potential was rated

     'high' over the next couple of days.  A STWO issued by JTWC on the

     20th noted that deep convection was flaring along a convergent band

     on the southwestern periphery of a well-defined, though broad, LLCC.

     Vertical shear in the region was low and an anticyclone aloft was

     providing good outflow.   The Perth TCWC began issuing gale warnings

     at 20/2100 UTC in anticipation of the system strengthening further.

     JTWC issued a TCFA at 21/0930 UTC due to the development of deep

     convection near a well-defined LLCC.  Outflow remained excellent

     and shear was forecast to decrease as the disturbance continued

     moving southward under a ridge axis.

 

     At 21/1200 UTC JTWC issued the first warning on TC-16S, assessing

     the MSW at 35 kts (1-min avg).  At the same time the system crossed

     longitude 90E and official warning responsibility was passed from

     BoM Perth to RSMC La Reunion.   Perth had been assessing the intensity

     at 30 kts (10-min avg), but MFR lowered this to 25 kts in their

     warnings, except for the possibility of 30 kts locally in the southern

     semicircle.  The MSW was upped to 30 kts at 22/0600 UTC, and at

     23/0600 UTC the depression was officially upgraded to Tropical Storm

     Humba, the name being assigned by the Meteorological Services of

     Mauritius.

 

  2. General Description of Track:  Tropical Cyclone Humba for the most

     part followed a rather smooth trajectory curving around the north-

     western and later western periphery of a subtropical ridge anchored

     over Western Australia.  The storm was moving west-southwesterly on

     the 21st as it entered the Southwest Indian Ocean basin, but the

     motion became more toward the southwest on the 23rd, and by the time

     of Humba's peak intensity on 25 February the cyclone was moving in

     a south-southwesterly direction.   Shortly after peaking in intensity

     an upper-level trough began to overtake the system from the west,

     increasing vertical shear and decreasing outflow aloft.  The storm

     began to steadily weaken and was declared extratropical at 0600 UTC

     on 27 February.  By the 28th the extratropical gale had slowed and

     turned westward just north of latitude 30S due to a blocking HIGH

     to the south, and MFR issued its final warning on the system at

     1200 UTC.

 

 

  C. Meteorological Data

  ----------------------

 

     No meteorological observations have been received by the author in

  association with Tropical Cyclone Humba.

 

 

  D. Damage and Casualties

  ------------------------

 

     No reports of damage or casualties resulting from Tropical Cyclone

  Humba have been received.

 

  (Report written by Gary Padgett)

 

  *************************************************************************

 

  NORTHWEST AUSTRALIA/SOUTHEAST INDIAN OCEAN (AUW) - From 90E to 135E

 

  Activity for February:  2 tropical LOWs **

 

  ** - one system eventually became a tropical cyclone in the Southwest

       Indian Ocean

 

 

                Northwest Australia/Southeast Indian Ocean

                      Tropical Activity for February

                ------------------------------------------

 

     No tropical cyclones traversed waters between 90E and 135E during the

  month of February.  A tropical LOW formed on 3 February about 310 nm

  north of the Cocos Islands.  The system was referenced in the daily

  Tropical Cyclone Outlooks for the Central Indian Ocean issued by the

  Perth TCWC from the 3rd through the 7th.  The LOW meandered about in the

  same general area for several days but never developed to the point that

  gale warnings were required.   The potential for development was rated

  'high' on the 4th and 5th, but this had decreased by the 6th.  No track

  was included for this system in the companion cyclone tracks file.

 

     Another tropical LOW developed well west of the Cocos Islands on the

  20th with gale warnings being initiated.  This LOW subsequently moved

  west of 90E where it developed into Tropical Storm Humba on 23 February.

  The report on Tropical Cyclone Humba may be found in the preceding

  section of this summary covering the Southwest Indian Ocean.

 

  *************************************************************************

 

  NORTHEAST AUSTRALIA/CORAL SEA (AUE) - From 135E to 160E

 

  Activity for February:  1 tropical cyclone of storm intensity

                          1 monsoon LOW of gale intensity

 

 

                          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.

 

 

                       Northeast Australia/Coral Sea

                       Tropical Activity for February

                       ------------------------------

 

     A tropical LOW formed near the Top End of the Northern Territory at

  the end of January and spent several days zigzagging around the Gulf of

  Carpentaria.  Finally, almost a week after its genesis, the LOW was able

  to strengthen into a tropical cyclone in the southeastern Gulf and was

  named Nelson.  Nelson intensified quickly and became a Category 2 cyclone

  on the Australian Scale shortly before landfall at the base of the Cape

  York Peninsula.  A report on Tropical Cyclone Nelson, authored by Simon

  Clarke, follows.

 

     The Brisbane TCWC issued gale warnings from 5 to 8 February on a

  monsoon LOW which formed east of Cairns on the 5th and subsequently

  moved southeastward parallel to the Queensland coastline.  The LOW

  weakened early on the 6th, but reformed to the west early on the 7th

  less than 100 nm east of Cairns.  This LOW helped to draw away most

  of the moisture feeding into the weakening overland Nelson and led to

  that system's quick decay following landfall.   Gales of up to 40 kts

  were forecast in association with the monsoon LOW, but the system did

  not have the structure of a tropical cyclone; hence, no name was

  assigned.  A track was included for this system in the companion cyclone

  tracks file and a track graphic can be found on John Diebolt's website.

 

 

 

                         TROPICAL CYCLONE NELSON

                                (TC-12P)

                         31 January - 7 February

               -------------------------------------------

 

  A. Storm Origins

  ----------------

 

     The tropical LOW that was to eventually become Tropical Cyclone

  Nelson developed to the north of Melville Island, Northern Territory,

  as early as 30 January.   The LOW formed at the western end of a

  re-invigorated monsoon trough, which linked to another developing

  tropical LOW in the far northwestern Coral Sea.  This other tropical

  LOW moved overland into the Palmerville-Georgetown region of

  Queensland over the next few days and was responsible for directing a

  significant moisture-laden air mass onto Queensland’s tropical east

  coast that produced torrential rains and flooding for several days

  between Innisfail and Sarina.  The BoM reported that several records

  were broken.  Warden Bend recorded a new extreme daily total of

  268.6 mm, while Hecate with 349.2 mm and Roma Peak with 222.8 mm

  recorded their highest February daily rainfalls on record.

 

     The pre-Nelson tropical Low moved to the east, skirting the

  northern Top End coast of the Territory at 10 kts.  The surface

  circulation could be clearly seen in radar imagery as it passed close

  to Cape Wessel, Northern Territory, late on 31 January.  However,

  continued development was held back by significant (20-kt plus)

  upper-level easterly wind shear emanating from the Georgetown LOW’s

  circulation.  Upper-level wind shear continued to hinder the further

  development of the LOW as it tracked into the central Gulf of

  Carpentaria before pushing back to the SW under the influence of a

  strengthening subtropical ridge to the south and east.  For much of the

  time the LLCC was located on the extreme eastern edge of the

  convection and possibly broke in two at one point, reconsolidating

  farther to the west as its deep cloud sheared off to the east and

  south.  By 4 February, the LOW was located close to the Northern

  Territory coast near Vanderlin Island, approximately 50 nm ENE of

  Borroloola, Northern Territory, (15.7S/137.1E) where it hovered for

  approximately 18 hrs.

 

     By this time upper-level conditions became more conducive for

  development as a ridge relocated itself over the system, resulting in

  improved upper-level outflow which allowed a CDO to develop over the

  LLCC.  The tropical LOW commenced a northeasterly path into the more

  open water of the southern Gulf of Carpentaria and gradually

  intensified.  By 04/2100 UTC the tropical LOW had drifted back to the

  SE as the monsoon flow over the Arafura Sea strengthened.  The

  developing LOW moved back into the Queensland AOR and was named

  Nelson near 15.8S/139.0E (approximately 45 nm NNW of Mornington

  Island, Queensland) at 2100 UTC 5 February.

 

 

  B. Synoptic History

  -------------------

 

     The balance of Nelson’s synoptic history proved to be rather

  straightforward as the cyclone moved to the E to ESE at 12 kts,

  passing to the north of Mornington Island while slowly building into

  a Category 2 cyclone.  However, just prior to landfall, which

  occurred at 06/1800 UTC just south of the mouth of the Gilbert River

  (approximately 16.5S/141.3E, or 65 nm NNE of Karumba), a small

  clockwise loop was observed.  Peak intensity of 980 hPa with 55-kt

  max 10-min avg winds was achieved at landfall.  Although the cyclone

  was initially predicted to track rapidly across northern Queensland

  and redevelop in the Coral Sea, a new tropical Low developed just to

  the east of Cairns, drawing away most of the moisture input into

  Nelson.  The cyclone decayed quickly, losing cyclone status at

  07/0300 UTC (near 16.4S/142.3E, or 105 nm NE of Karumba).  Ex-Nelson

  dissipated soon thereafter over the southwestern Cape York Peninsula

  as the new LOW off the tropical northeastern coast of Queensland

  gradually accelerated away to the southeast.

 

 

  C. Damage and Casualties

  ------------------------

 

     There were no casualties reported from Nelson.  However, all ten

  crew members aboard a 5,000-tonne barge (MV Wunma) were winched to

  safety to a bulk carrier after the zinc-carrying vessel was swamped

  by huge seas whipped up by the cyclone while about 50 nm NW of

  Karumba.  The cyclone also whipped up large waves along the entire

  western seaboard of the Gulf.  At Weipa, well to the north of the

  cyclone, waves were reported reaching as high as five metres.

 

     Despite this, little overall damage was reported.  No one was

  reported as injured and there was no major flooding in local rivers.

  Bitumen roads remained open.  At Inkerman Station, which reported the

  eye of the cyclone, a few palm trees were blown down and a tank blew

  off a water stand. 

 

     An ABC TV-provided newsreel may be viewed at the following link:

 

  http://origin.abc.net.au/news/items/200702/1842591.htm?queensland

 

  (Report written by Simon Clarke)

 

  *************************************************************************

 

  SOUTH PACIFIC (SPA) - South Pacific Ocean East of Longitude 160E

 

  Activity for February:  1 tropical depression **

 

  ** - system was treated as a minimal tropical storm by JTWC

 

 

                          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 February

                --------------------------------------------

 

     Tropical cyclone activity to date for the current season in the South

  Pacific Ocean has occurred in two well-defined periods.  The first began

  with the development of intense Tropical Cyclone Xavier in late October

  and concluded with Tropical Depression 05F in late November/early

  December, which was treated as a minimal tropical storm (TC-04P) by

  JTWC.  The basin lay quiet until another round of activity began during

  the second week of January, beginning with Tropical Depression 06F and

  including the short-lived Tropical Cyclones Zita and Arthur.  This second

  spurt of activity concluded with a system which began forming late in

  January and was classified as Tropical Depression 09F by RSMC Nadi on

  2 February.  JTWC assessed this system to be a minimal tropical storm

  and numbered it TC-11P.  A short report on TD-09F/TC-11P follows.

  Following the demise of this system on 5 February, no tropical

  depressions were classified until 21 March.

 

 

 

                            TROPICAL DEPRESSION

                             (TD-09F / TC-11P)

                               1 - 5 February

                  ---------------------------------------

 

     A short report is being included for this system due to the fact that

  JTWC briefly upgraded it to tropical storm intensity (1-min avg MSW of

  35 kts).   The Tropical Disturbance Summary issued by RSMC Nadi at 2100

  UTC on 29 January mentioned a tropical disturbance near 10.0S/174.0W,

  or west-northwest of Samoa.  The system was poorly-organized with most

  of the convection located to the north and east of the LLCC.  The

  disturbance was moving westward in an environment of weak vertical shear.

  By 2100 UTC on 31 January the system had crossed the Dateline, still

  moving slowly westward.  Overall environmental conditions were favorable

  for tropical cyclogenesis, but there had been no westerly surge to aid

  in development; hence, none of the models at the time were suggesting

  intensification.

 

     The Fiji TCWC assigned the number '09F' to the disturbance at 2100

  UTC on 1 February with the center located roughly 500 nm north of the

  Fijian island of Suva.  Convective banding was increasing in organization

  with the LLCC located near a band of deep convection.  By 0600 UTC on

  the 2nd Nadi had classified the system as Tropical Depression 09F.  The

  depression's motion had been erratic but was generally toward the south-

  west.  At 03/0000 UTC the center of TD-09F was estimated to be about

  385 nm northwest of Suva with maximum 10-min avg winds of 30 kts.  The

  forecast called for the depression to eventually turn and accelerate

  toward the southeast.  Also, early on the 3rd JTWC issued a TCFA for

  the system, which was showing signs of increased convective organization

  within a favorable environment of low vertical shear and anticyclonic

  outflow aloft.

 

     JTWC issued the first of three warnings on TC-11P at 0000 UTC on

  4 February, estimating the MSW at 35 kts (1-min avg).  The system was

  tracking southeastward at 10 kts along the southwestern periphery of

  a near-equatorial ridge to the east.  The warning from Nadi at this

  time placed it about 110 nm north-northeast of Suva and about to cross

  the island of Nambouwalu.  However, the concurrent JTWC position was

  105 nm to the northwest of the position reported by Nadi.  While outflow

  was favorable, vertical shear continued to increase along the track of

  the depression, and this prevented any further intensification.   After

  leaving the Fiji area, TD-09F/TC-11P accelerated to the southeast, and

  at 05/0000 UTC was located only about 50 nm south-southeast of

  Nuku'alofa in Tonga.   Again, this is based on Nadi's coordinates--JTWC's

  final warning placed the center about 90 nm to the north-northeast.

  This was also Fiji's final warning on the system as the LLCC had become

  exposed and devoid of deep convection.  The deepest convection was

  displaced about 60 nm to the east of the center and shear was increasing.

  The remnant LOW turned to the east and had become very ill-defined about

  200 nm south-southeast of Niue by 05/1200 UTC.

 

     Dvorak ratings from JTWC, SAB and AFWA peaked at T2.5/2.5, and were

  in agreement with RSMC Nadi's analyses.  Interestingly, the Brisbane

  TCWC rated the depression at T3.0/3.0 at 04/0520 UTC, and CPHC got as

  high as T3.5/3.5 at 04/0438 UTC.  Such differences illustrate the

  uncertainties and subjectivity inherent in the Dvorak technique, useful

  though it may be, and make a good case for the wisdom of taking into

  consideration all the available estimates when attempting to determine

  the best value for the operational intensity to include in warnings.

 

     No reports of damage or casualties resulting from this system have

  been received.

 

  (Report written by Gary Padgett)

 

  *************************************************************************

 

         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 Monterrey 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 2005 (2004-2005 season for the Southern Hemisphere).

  ATCRs for earlier years are available also.

 

     The URL is:  https://metocph.nmci.navy.mil/jtwc.php

 

 

     Also, TPC/NHC has available on its webpage nice "technicolor"

  tracking charts for the 2006 Atlantic and Eastern North Pacific

  tropical cyclones; also, storm reports for all the 2006 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  (Northwest Pacific)

  E-mail:  newchapelobservatory@btinternet.com

 

  Simon Clarke  (Northeast Australia/Coral Sea, South Pacific)

  E-mail:  scla4255@bigpond.net.au

 

  *************************************************************************

  *************************************************************************

  Posted: 03.28.07 / Typhoon2000.ph, Typhoon2000.com