GARY PADGETT'S MONTHLY GLOBAL TROPICAL CYCLONE SUMMARY JUNE, 2005 (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.) ************************************************************************* JUNE HIGHLIGHTS --> Two June Atlantic storms for first time since 1986 --> Impressive typhoon recurves east of the Philippines --> Two minor Eastern North Pacific tropical storms ************************************************************************* ***** Feature of the Month for June ***** A REVIEW OF THE 2004-2005 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 2004 and 30 June 2005 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) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 02S (MFR-02) 25-29 Oct 996 35 30 SWI 03S Arola 07-13 Nov 976 75 60 SWI 04S Bento 20-30 Nov 905 140 120 SWI --- (MFR-05) 11 Dec 1000 -- 25 SWI (1) 06S Chambo 23 Dec-02 Jan 945 95 85 SWI --- (MFR-07) 04-05 Jan 998 -- 30 SWI 12S Ernest 17-25 Jan 940 100 90 SWI 11S Daren 17-22 Jan 988 45 40 SWI --- Felapi 26 Jan-02 Feb 995 -- 35 SWI 14S Gerard 28 Jan-05 Feb 973 60 60 SWI --- (MFR-13) 04-08 Feb 997 -- 30 SWI --- (MFR-14) 08-17 Feb 1000 -- 25 SWI --- (MFR-15) 24-28 Feb 998 -- 30 SWI 24S Hennie 21-29 Mar 980 65 55 SWI 25S Isang 29 Mar-07 Apr 975 55 60 SWI NOTES: (1) System was a short-lived subtropical disturbance. ************************************************************************ NORTHWEST AUSTRALIA / SOUTHEAST INDIAN OCEAN JTWC NAME DATES CENT MSW MSW BASIN NUM PRS 1-MIN 10-MIN (mb) (kts) (kts) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 01S Phoebe 31 Aug-04 Sep 984 55 50 SWI/AUW 05S ----- 02-07 Dec 998 40 30 AUW 07S Raymond 31 Dec-03 Jan 990 50 45 AUW 09S Sally 07-10 Jan 988 40 45 AUW 10S ----- 13-19 Jan 998 35 30 AUW (1) 13S Tim 23-26 Jan 988 35 45 AUW 17S Vivienne 05-10 Feb 990 35 45 AUW 23S Willy 09-17 Mar 960 90 80 AUW 26S Adeline-Juliet 01-14 Apr 905 130 120 AUW/SWI NOTES: (1) Some peripheral gales were associated with this system. ************************************************************************ NORTHEAST AUSTRALIA / CORAL SEA JTWC NAME DATES CENT MSW MSW BASIN NUM PRS 1-MIN 10-MIN (mb) (kts) (kts) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ --- ----- 19-25 Jan 997 -- 40 AUE (1) 16P Harvey 05-14 Feb 965 50 85 AUE 22P Ingrid 05-19 Mar 925 135 120 AUE/AUW --- ----- 14-15 Apr 993 -- 45 AUE (2) NOTES: (1) This system had two lives: the first as a weak but well-defined tropical LOW inland over the Cape York Peninsula. The latter portion occurred over water and peripheral gales were reported, but the system did not then have the structure of a true tropical cyclone. (2) System occurred in Port Moresby's AOR but no warnings were issued by that agency. The CP and MSW reported above were taken from gale warnings issued by BoM Brisbane. ************************************************************************ SOUTH PACIFIC OCEAN JTWC NAME DATES CENT MSW MSW BASIN NUM PRS 1-MIN 10-MIN (mb) (kts) (kts) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ --- (01F) 28-30 Oct 1001 -- 25 SPA (1) --- (02F) 03-14 Dec 1000 -- 30 SPA (2) --- (03F) 05-10 Dec 1003 -- 25 SPA --- Judy 22-27 Dec 989 -- 40 SPA 08P Kerry 03-15 Jan 960 90 75 SPA/AUE --- Lola 26 Jan-02 Feb 990 -- 40 SPA 15P Meena 02-08 Feb 915 125 115 SPA 18P Nancy 10-18 Feb 935 125 110 SPA 19P Olaf 10-23 Feb 915 145 125 SPA 20P Percy 24 Feb-05 Mar 900 140 125 SPA --- (11F) 26-27 Feb 998 -- 30 SPA (2) 21P Rae 27 Feb-08 Mar 990 35 40 SPA --- (13F) 27 Feb-04 Mar 1001 -- -- SPA (3) --- (14F) 14 Apr-01 May 1000 -- 30 SPA --- Sheila 20-23 Apr 995 -- 40 SPA --- (17F) 26 Apr-01 May 1007 -- -- SPA (3) --- (18F) 29 Apr-01 May 1006 -- -- SPA (3) NOTES: (1) This system drifted westward in the early days of November into Brisbane's AOR. That warning centre mentioned the LOW in its daily tropical weather outlook for several days but gave no coordinates. (2) Some peripheral gales were associated with these systems. (3) No MSW specified in the Tropical Disturbance Summaries issued by RSMC Nadi for these systems. ************************************************************************* ACTIVITY BY BASINS ATLANTIC (ATL) - North Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico Activity for June: 2 tropical storms 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 June ----------------------------------- The month of June produces a tropical storm about every other year on the average in the Atlantic basin with a hurricane forming only about every 6 years. June, 2005, was above normal with two named tropical storms forming, yielding a NTC figure of 4.40%. The average NTC for June is 2.25%, so tropical cyclone activity in June was about twice the average. (See the Monthly Feature in the June, 2003, summary for the definition of NTC.) Tropical Storm Arlene formed during the second week of June in the northwestern Caribbean Sea, a favored area for June tropical cyclogenesis. Arlene moved northward across the western tip of Cuba into the eastern Gulf of Mexico where it intensified to near hurricane status. Weakening slightly, the cyclone made landfall on the Alabama coast almost exactly where the eye of destructive Hurricane Ivan had crashed ashore nine months earlier. Arlene brought heavy tropical rainfall to many of the southeastern states, but damage was minimal. Late in the month, small, ephemeral Tropical Storm Bret popped up in the Bay of Campeche and quickly made landfall in Mexico. Another late June system deserves some mention. A small surface LOW formed on 24 June off the southeastern U. S. coast due to the interaction between an upper-level trough and a vigorous tropical wave. On the morning of the 25th the LOW appeared better organized as it moved north-northwestward toward the Carolinas. A reconnaissance plane investigated the system during the afternoon but found that it was less organized than it had appeared in satellite imagery. Either this LOW redeveloped, or else another one formed, near the eastern coast of North Carolina between Morehead City and Cape Hatteras on the morning of 26 June. Surface observations indicated maximum sustained winds of around 20 kts with gusts to 30 kts along the coast and to the east of the center. The system subsequently moved north-northeastward through coastal North Carolina and back out to sea, but no further development was noted. Reports on Tropical Storms Arlene and Bret follow. TROPICAL STORM ARLENE (TC-01) 8 - 13 June ----------------------------------------- A. Storm Origins ---------------- The six-month Atlantic hurricane season officially begins each year on 1 June, and in 2005 there was not a long wait before the first named tropical cyclone appeared. On 7 June the 1530 UTC Tropical Weather Outlook issued by TPC/NHC noted that an increase in clouds and shower activity had been noted over Central America and the western Caribbean Sea, and that surface pressures had been slowly falling in the area. A broad area of low pressure formed later in the day and began moving slowly northward. By midday on the 8th surface observations and satellite imagery indicated that the system was becoming better organized and that a tropical depression appeared to be forming. During the early afternoon of 8 June, a U. S. Air Force Reserves reconnaissance aircraft found a poorly-defined circulation center with light and variable winds and a minimum CP of 1004 mb located about 275 nm south of the western tip of Cuba. Maximum FLWs of about 25-30 kts were mostly confined to convective bands well-removed from the center in the eastern semicircle. Based upon this, advisories were initiated at 2100 UTC on Tropical Depression 01. During the evening of the 8th and early on 9 June the depression lumbered slowly northward, its development hampered somewhat by southwesterly shear associated with a sharp upper- level trough to the west. During the wee hours of the 9th ship 3FFL8 reported 40-kt winds while located about 130 nm east-northeast of the cyclone's center. Although this report was considered slightly too high, it nonetheless provided the basis for upgrading the depression to Tropical Storm Arlene at 1200 UTC. The center of the newly-christened tropical storm was located about 165 nm south-southeast of the western tip of Cuba, moving northward at about 8 kts. B. Synoptic History ------------------- For the first 24 hours after being named Arlene remained rather ragged-looking. Wind shear continued to affect the system and the LLCC became separated from the convection. During the evening of 9 June satellite imagery and reconnaissance data indicated that multiple small circulations were rotating inside a larger well-defined outer cyclonic envelope. As it plodded northward Arlene looked in satellite imagery like half of a cyclone. Very dry air associated with the trough to the west had essentially squelched convection on the western side of the system. At 0900 UTC on 10 June Arlene passed over the extreme western tip of Cuba. Shortly after entering the southeastern Gulf of Mexico Arlene strengthened significantly. A Hurricane Hunter aircraft at 1130 UTC reported a peak 850-mb FLW of 65 kts about 110 nm northeast of the center, so the MSW was upped to 50 kts at 1500 UTC. Tropical Storm Arlene reached its peak intensity of 60 kts at 0000 UTC on 11 June. A reconnaissance plane found a peak 850-mb FLW of 75 kts and a CP of 989 mb within a new but stronger low-level vortex that had developed beneath a deep convective burst rotating cyclonically around the east and north side of the larger cyclonic gyre. Arlene was centered at this time about 250 nm south-southeast of Pensacola, Florida, and moving north-northwestward at 16 kts. By early morning on the 11th satellite imagery indicated that Arlene's convection had become rather disorganized with no new significant convective bursts to replace the one which had carried the cyclone to its peak intensity. The MSW was officially reduced to 50 kts at 11/1800 UTC with the cyclone's center approaching the Alabama coast near Gulf Shores. The center of Arlene's large circulation crossed the coastline around 1900 UTC on 11 June. The CP reported by a reconnaissance aircraft just before landfall was 991 mb. Hurricane warnings had been issued for portions of the central Gulf Coast in the event that Arlene reached hurricane intensity, but this did not materialize. Once inland Arlene's winds began to quickly drop and the system was downgraded to tropical depression status at 12/0000 UTC while passing near Jackson, Alabama. The final advisory from TPC/NHC was issued at 12/0300 UTC, and the concurrent discussion bulletin noted that surprisingly Arlene's satellite and radar signatures had both improved and looked better than at any time while the cyclone was over water. Beginning at 0900 UTC the Hydrometeorological Prediction Center in Maryland assumed the responsibility for writing advisories on the weakening Arlene. The cyclone's remnants tracked northward through western Alabama, across Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, and finally into southern Michigan. By 2100 UTC on 13 June the depression had lost all its semblance of tropical characteristics and was declared extratropical while located about 65 km northeast of Flint, Michigan, and heading for Lake Huron. A graphic displaying the track of Tropical Storm Arlene may be found at the following link: C. Meteorological Observations ------------------------------ RAINFALL TOTALS FOR TROPICAL STORM ARLENE ----------------------------------------- Only storm totals exceeding 4 inches (~100 mm) are listed. The first group are totals from Cuba (CU) with the city (and sometimes Cuban state) listed. The United States totals are grouped by state in alphabetical order. A special thanks to David Roth of the Hydrometeorological Prediction Center for sending me the master Excel spreadsheet for Arlene rainfalls from which the following were extracted. City/Location Lat Lon Storm Total N W (in) (mm) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- CU La Fe, Isla De La Juventud 21.7 82.8 8.18 207.8 CU Pinar del Rio ---- ---- 7.40 188.0 CU Cuba Francia ---- ---- 6.56 166.6 CU Sancti Spiritus, Sancti Spiritus 21.9 79.5 6.11 155.2 CU Santa Fe ---- ---- 6.00 152.4 CU Punta del Este ---- ---- 5.63 143.0 CU Paso Real De San Diego, Pinar Del Rio 22.6 83.3 5.39 136.9 CU La Palma, Pinar Del Rio 22.8 83.6 4.67 118.6 CU San Juan Y Martinez, Pinar Del Rio 22.3 83.8 4.65 118.1 CU Bahia Honda, Pinar Del Rio 22.9 83.2 4.41 112.0 AL MILLERS FERRY L&D 32.1 87.4 6.77 172.0 AL MOBILE 2S ---- ---- 5.81 147.6 AL MOBILE NWS OFFICE ---- ---- 5.06 128.5 AL MOBILE REG AP-ASOS 30.7 88.2 4.67 118.6 AL ALBERTA 32.2 87.4 4.60 116.8 AL NEWBERN 32.6 87.6 4.60 116.8 AL JASPER 33.9 87.3 4.35 110.5 AL LIVINGSTON 1SSW 32.6 88.2 4.20 106.7 AL UNIONTOWN 32.5 87.5 4.20 106.7 AL TUSCALOOSA L&D 33.2 87.6 4.18 106.2 AL DEMOPOLIS LOCK/DAM 32.5 87.9 4.07 103.4 FL APOPKA 28.6 81.6 6.50 165.1 FL NAPLES 26.2 81.8 6.21 157.7 FL DOWLING PK-SUWANNE R 30.2 83.2 5.75 146.1 FL TYNDALL AFB/PANAMA CITY 8SE 30.1 85.6 5.48 139.2 FL MARY ESTHER 30.4 86.7 5.42 137.7 FL ROCK_ISLAND_4N 26.2 81.4 5.34 135.6 FL STEINHATCHEE 29.7 83.4 5.07 128.8 FL MONROE_15NE/RACOON PT 26.0 81.3 4.95 125.7 FL SWEETWATER_14WSW 25.7 80.6 4.95 125.7 FL HOMESTEAD 25.5 80.5 4.91 124.7 FL DOWLING PARK 30.3 83.3 4.81 122.2 FL DUNEDIN 28.1 82.8 4.75 120.7 FL FORT_MYERS 26.6 81.9 4.75 120.7 FL RICHMOND HGTS 13W/CHEKIKA 25.6 80.6 4.68 118.9 FL PLYMOUTH 28.8 81.5 4.66 118.4 FL TAMIAMI RANGER STN 25.8 80.8 4.66 118.4 FL SUWANNEE 7ENE 29.4 83.0 4.52 114.8 FL PACE 30.6 87.1 4.42 112.3 FL BIG CYPRESS 26.3 81.0 4.35 110.5 FL OLDSMAR 3ENE/DBL BR 28.1 82.6 4.30 109.2 FL DAYTONA_BEACH 29.2 81.1 4.29 109.0 FL JAY 30.8 87.1 4.29 109.0 FL HOMESTEAD GEN AV APT 25.5 80.6 4.20 106.7 FL HOMESTEAD AFB 25.5 80.4 4.18 106.2 FL FT MEADE-PEACE RVR 27.8 81.8 4.17 105.9 FL MIAMI INTL ARPT ASOS 25.8 80.3 4.08 103.6 FL PINELLAS PK/ST JOE C 27.8 82.7 4.05 102.9 FL CLEWISTON NO. 2 26.7 81.1 4.00 101.6 FL ALLIGATOR CK/CLRWTR 28.0 82.7 3.99 101.3 GA PINE MOUNTAIN 35.0 83.2 6.10 154.9 GA HELEN 7N/USFS 34.8 83.7 5.40 137.2 GA CLAYTON 4NE 34.9 83.3 5.31 134.9 GA MOUNTAIN CITY 2SW/BLACK ROCK MTN ST PK 34.9 83.4 5.24 133.1 GA MOULTRIE/SUNBELT AGRICULTURAL EXPOSITION 31.1 83.7 5.21 132.3 GA CHOESTOE 34.8 83.9 4.93 125.2 GA SAUTEE 3W 34.7 83.7 4.59 116.6 GA NACOOCHEE-GA PWR 34.7 83.7 4.27 108.5 GA CRISP COUNTY DAM 31.9 84.0 4.12 104.6 IN EVANSVILLE 38.0 87.5 4.44 112.8 IN BLOOMINGTON 39.1 86.6 4.22 107.2 IN MEROM 2ESE 39.1 87.5 4.00 101.6 MS ABERDEEN L&D/TOMB RVR 33.8 88.5 6.19 157.2 MS FULTON L&D C 34.3 88.4 5.99 152.1 MS FULTON 34.3 88.5 5.55 141.0 MS AMORY LOCK A 34.0 88.5 5.51 140.0 MS DAMASCUS 1SE/OKATIBBEE CK 32.6 88.8 5.50 139.7 MS MACON-NOXUBEE RIVER 33.1 88.6 5.30 134.6 MS COLUMBUS L&D/TOMB RVR 33.5 88.5 5.27 133.9 MS COLUMBUS/WEST POINT 33.5 88.6 5.16 131.1 MS COLLINSVILLE 32.4 88.8 5.08 129.0 MS MERIDIAN_10NW/OKATIBBEE RSVR 32.5 88.8 4.96 126.0 MS BALDWYN 2S 34.5 88.6 4.88 124.0 MS TOPTON 32.5 88.6 4.69 119.1 MS SMITHVILLE LOCK B 34.1 88.4 4.63 117.6 MS SHUCKTOWN 1N 32.6 88.8 4.60 116.8 MS BAY SPRINGS L/D 34.5 88.3 4.45 113.0 MS BOONEVILLE/BIG BROWN CK 34.7 88.6 4.34 110.2 MS CHUNKY_1E/CHUNKY RVR 32.3 88.9 4.17 105.9 MS PASCAGOULA 30.5 88.5 4.09 103.9 NC LAKE TOXAWAY 35.1 83.0 9.84 249.9 NC HIGHLANDS 35.1 83.2 7.83 198.9 NC MT MITCHELL ST PK 35.8 82.3 6.46 164.1 SC CAESARS HEAD 35.1 82.6 4.85 123.2 SC WALHALLA 5NW 34.8 83.1 4.72 119.9 TN SPRINGFIELD EXPERIMENT STATION 36.5 86.8 4.01 101.9 D. Damage and Casualties ------------------------ Damage resulting from Tropical Storm Arlene was minimal. There was one death reported--a student drowned in a rip current triggered by Arlene at Miami Beach, Florida. (Report written by Gary Padgett) TROPICAL STORM BRET (TC-02) 28 - 30 June --------------------------------------- A. Storm Origins ---------------- Bret's origins appear to lie in a tropical wave with an associated weak area of surface low pressure which crossed portions of Central America and the Yucatan Peninsula from 24-27 June. For several days disturbed weather covered extensive portions of the western and central Caribbean Sea and extended northward and northeastward across Florida and the Bahamas. By the afternoon of the 27th the activity across Central America had weakened and tropical storm formation was not expected in the region during the next couple of days. However, a Tropical Weather Outlook issued at 28/0230 UTC noted that convective activity in the Bay of Campeche associated with a trough of low pressure had increased during the evening hours and the currently unfavorable upper-level winds were forecast to become somewhat more conducive to tropical cyclogenesis during the next day or two. As the 28th progressed showers and thunderstorms continued to increase around the area of surface low pressure. A reconnaissance aircraft during the afternoon found that a tropical depression very near tropical storm strength had developed, located about 50 nm northeast of Veracruz, Mexico. A few spots of FLWs over 40 kts were found, indicating that the system was on the verge of becoming a tropical storm. The very small LLCC was moving west-northwestward at about 5 kts. A second reconnaissance mission into the system during the early evening hours found that the system had continued to intensify, and at 0000 UTC on 29 June the depression was upgraded to Tropical Storm Bret. This was the first occasion since 1986 in which two Atlantic tropical storms formed during the month of June, and only the 13th time since 1851. Bret was a very small tropical cyclone--the reconnaissance aircraft found the maximum FLWs only 3 nm southwest of the center. Gales associated with Bret covered an area only 50-60 nm in diameter. B. Synoptic History ------------------- By late evening a reconnaissance mission found that Bret's radar presentation had deteriorated with cloud top temperatures warming somewhat. However, deeper convection soon began to appear and for most of the overnight period Bret maintained a fairly tight convective band in the western semicircle. Dvorak classifications at 29/0600 UTC were T2.5 from TAFB and SAB. Bret remained a minimal tropical storm with peak winds of 35 kts until landfall near Tuxpan, Mexico, around 1200 UTC. The minimum CP reported by reconnaissance aircraft was 1002 mb during the evening of 28 June. Bret was downgraded to a tropical depression at 1500 UTC as it continued to push further inland into Mexico. The weakening cyclone turned to a north-northwesterly course, and the final advisory, issued at 0300 UTC on 30 June, placed the center about 65 km west of Tampico, Mexico. A graphic displaying the track of Tropical Storm Bret may be found at the following link: C. Meteorological Observations ------------------------------ I have one rainfall observation from Mexico, sent by Huang Chunliang. Tuxpan, Veracruz State (WMO 76640, 20.95N/97.40W), reported 117.4 mm of rain between 28/1200 and 29/1200 UTC. D. Damage and Casualties ------------------------ Rainfall from Tropical Storm Bret produced flooding in the State of Veracruz. In the town of Naranjos two people were reportedly swept away by floodwaters. No other reports of damage or casualties resulting from Tropical Storm Bret are available. (Report written by Gary Padgett) ************************************************************************* NORTHEAST PACIFIC (NEP) - North Pacific Ocean East of Longitude 180 Activity for June: 2 tropical storms 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 June -------------------------------------------- June tropical cyclone activity was well below normal in the Eastern North Pacific during June, 2005. The June averages for this basin are (based on 1971-2004) 2 named storms and 1 hurricane with an intense hurricane (Saffir/Simpson Category 3 or higher) in about two years out of five. Two tropical storms formed in June, 2005, but neither reached hurricane intensity. The average NTC for June in this basin is 10.3%, but the NTC for this year was only 2.8%--about 25% of the average for June. Tropical Storms Beatriz and Calvin formed south of the Mexican coast and moved westward without producing any significant effects on land. Short reports on both these systems follow. TROPICAL STORM BEATRIZ (TC-02E) 21 - 24 June ------------------------------------------ Tropical Storm Beatriz was the first in a series of weak, short-lived tropical storms which formed south of central Mexico during late June and early July. All these tropical cyclones formed in an environment of easterly shear which prevented rapid strengthening. And with cooler- than-normal SSTs south of the Baja California Peninsula, none were able to reach hurricane intensity before encountering sub-26 C water and its attendant stable air. Beatriz formed from a tropical wave which had entered the Eastern North Pacific from Central America. The system became a tropical depression (TD-02E) at 1800 UTC on 21 June while located approximately 375 nm south-southeast of Manzanillo, Mexico. The depression strengthened slowly while moving west-northwestward well south of the Mexican coastline. By 1200 UTC on 22 June a well-defined deep convective band was consolidating in the northern semicircle of the large circulation, and Dvorak classifications were a consensus T2.5; hence, the depression was upgraded to Tropical Storm Beatriz while located about 275 nm south-southwest of Manzanillo. At 1200 UTC a ship (9VVN) reported 30-kt winds just southeast of the center and outside the deep convection, so it was considered likely that winds were slightly stronger beneath the convection. Beatriz reached its peak intensity of 45 kts at 0000 UTC on 23 June while centered approximately 475 nm south-southeast of Cabo San Lucas on the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula. A healthy burst of convection had developed over or near the LLCC during the preceding few hours, producing a nice round CDO feature. Even though T-numbers were up to 3.5 (55 kts) at 0600 UTC, the coverage of the deep convection subsequently began to diminish. A TRMM overpass near 0700 UTC revealed a sheared system with the estimated center beneath the eastern side of the deep convection. The MSW was decreased to 40 kts at 23/1800 UTC, and six hours later Beatriz was downgraded to a tropical depression. By 1200 UTC on 24 June the cyclone had become a remnant swirl of low clouds centered about 350 nm south-southwest of Cabo San Lucas and slightly more than 100 nm west-southwest of Socorro Island. A graphic displaying the track of Tropical Storm Beatriz may be found at the following link: No damage or casualties were reported as a result of Tropical Storm Beatriz. (Report written by Gary Padgett) TROPICAL STORM CALVIN (TC-03E) 26 - 29 June ----------------------------------------- A tropical wave crossed Central America and entered the Eastern North Pacific on 21 June. The associated area of disturbed weather moved slowly westward for several days as it very gradually became better organized. The system was classified as a tropical depression (TD-03E) at 1800 UTC on 26 June while located about 225 nm southeast of Acapulco, Mexico. A 27/0449 UTC AMSU overpass indicated that the LLCC was to the southeast of the main convective cloud mass and the well-defined mid- level circulation center. However, all three satellite agencies were estimating the intensity at 35 kts, so TD-03E was upgraded to Tropical Storm Calvin at 27/0600 UTC while centered a little less than 200 nm southeast of Acapulco. Also, the most recent UW-CIMSS 3-hour average AODT estimate was 36 kts. As seen in satellite imagery the deep convection was not well- organized; however, radar images from the Comision Nacional del Agua Acapulco revealed a rather well-defined spiral rain band structure. Based on this the MSW was upped to the peak intensity of 45 kts at 1500 UTC on 27 June. Calvin's center was then located roughly 100 nm south- southwest of Acapulco. During the evening hours Calvin's satellite and radar presentations deteriorated significantly: cloud tops had warmed and the banding seen earlier had all but disappeared. Also, two microwave passes near 28/0100 UTC indicated that the LLCC was about 50 nm to the southeast of the mid-level circulation center. The MSW was lowered to 40 kts at 28/0000 UTC, and further to 35 kts at 0300 UTC. The system subsequently began to track to the southwest as it weakened to a tropical depression at 28/2100 UTC. High-resolution visible imagery showed that Calvin was in the process of degenerating into an east-west elongated trough. The final advisory was issued at 29/0300 UTC, by which time Calvin had degenerated into a cloud swirl embedded within a larger elongated trough. The final position was about 250 nm south-southwest of Manzanillo. For a couple more days the remnant circulation, embedded within a broader area of low pressure, continued to move toward the west- northwest while producing intermittent bursts of deep but disorganized convection. A graphic displaying the track of Tropical Storm Calvin may be found at the following link: No damage or casualties were reported as a result of Tropical Storm Calvin. The proximity of the cyclone to the coast, however, resulted in the posting of tropical storm watches along portions of the Mexico coast- line on 27 and 28 June. (Report written by Gary Padgett) ************************************************************************* NORTHWEST PACIFIC (NWP) - North Pacific Ocean West of Longitude 180 Activity for June: 1 typhoon 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 Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical & Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). Also, Huang Chunliang of Fuzhou City, China, sends data taken from synoptic observations around the Northwest Pacific basin. A very special thanks to Michael and Chunliang for the assistance they so reliably provide. 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 June -------------------------------------------- No tropical cyclones actually formed in the Northwest Pacific basin during June, 2005. A tropical storm (TS-04W) had formed in late May, and on 1 June was upgraded to tropical storm status by JMA and assigned the name Nesat. Nesat (named Dante by PAGASA) went on to become an intense typhoon which peaked just under the super typhoon criterion of 130 kts. Typhoon Nesat/Dante followed a long trajectory from its birthplace south of Guam, recurving well east of the Philippines and eventually passing southeast of Japan. A report on Nesat, authored by Kevin Boyle, follows. TYPHOON NESAT (TC-04W / TY 0504 / DANTE) 30 May - 14 June ---------------------------------------------- Nesat: contributed by Cambodia, means 'fishing' (i.e., the verb 'to fish') A. Introduction --------------- Nesat was the third Western North Pacific tropical cyclone of 2005 to reach typhoon intensity. It became a very intense storm, peaking at 125 kts, the strongest of the year so far. The only active tropical cyclone in June, Nesat followed a very similar recurving track to that followed by Typhoon Sonca in late April and proved to be noteworthy for its resilience. B. Storm Origins ---------------- The disturbance that became Typhoon Nesat was first mentioned in JTWC's STWO at 2130 UTC 27 May when it was located approximately 860 nm southeast of Guam. Despite a light wind shear environment and a favourably-placed TUTT, the system remained dormant until late on the 29th when it began to organize. After further development, a TCFA was released, followed by the first warning at 30/0600 UTC. At this time, Tropical Depression 04W was centred 280 nm southeast of Guam, drifting slowly west-northwestward along the southern periphery of the mid-level steering ridge. Intensifying, it reached tropical storm intensity at 30/1800 UTC. The tropical cyclone maintained 35-kt winds through much of the 31st while exhibiting a partially-exposed LLCC. C. Synoptic History ------------------- More rapid strengthening occurred on 1 June and, after JMA upgraded their MSW to 45 kts at 0000 UTC 1 June, the newly christened Nesat was upgraded to a typhoon at 01/1200 UTC (per JTWC warnings) while located approximately 310 nm west-southwest of Guam. Nesat then underwent an explosive deepening phase which brought the intensity up to 115 kts by 02/0000 UTC. Intensification then abruptly ceased and the system began to slowly weaken on 3 June, apparently due to moderate easterly shear and restricted poleward outflow. However, the typhoon began to rapidly strengthen once more later that day, and aided by favourable interaction with a TUTT cell centred 600 nm to the east, rapidly intensified to 125 kts at 04/0000 UTC, just shy of becoming the first super typhoon of the year. This was to be the peak intensity of the tropical cyclone. At this time, Typhoon Nesat was centred about 720 nm south-southeast of Okinawa and was still plodding along towards the west-northwest at around 6 kts. (PAGASA had already assigned the name Dante, the fourth name from their list, after the cyclone had crossed longitude 135 degrees east shortly after 02/1800 UTC.) Typhoon Nesat/Dante began to steadily weaken on 4 June as it turned rather sharply northwards around the western extremity of the mid-level steering ridge. Animated satellite imagery indicated that the northern semicircle had eroded significantly in association with a large area of convergence aloft. Also, weak northeasterly shear was displacing the deep convection slightly to the southwest of the LLCC. However, after the MSW had levelled off at 90 kts at 1200 UTC 5 June, poleward outflow began to improve and Typhoon Nesat began its third and final strengthening phase which brought the intensity back up to 120 kts at 06/1800 UTC. In response to a brief enhancement of the steering ridge in association with the passage of a mid-latitude shortwave ridge, Nesat moved onto a more northerly heading at 07/0000 UTC, and the storm, centred approximately 410 nm southeast of Okinawa, began to feel the effects of dry air and increasing shear. The slow northward drift persisted on 7 June. On the 8th steering currents became increasingly influenced by a mid-latitude trough over China, and this feature guided Nesat back onto a northeasterly heading. Typhoon Nesat weakened rather quickly and was downgraded to a tropical storm at 0000 UTC 9 June while located approximately 520 nm south- southwest of Tokyo, Japan. JTWC issued the final warning at 10/0000 UTC, locating the centre of the extratropical system 310 nm south of Tokyo. JMA maintained Nesat as a tropical cyclone until 11/0600 UTC, when that agency also ended warning coverage. Typhoon Nesat's remnants accelerated northeastward and were last noted as a 35-kt LOW in the vicinity of the Aleutian Islands in the High Seas Bulletin issued at 14/0600 UTC. JMA, PAGASA, and the CWB of Taiwan all estimated peak winds of 95 kts (10-min avg) while the lowest CP estimated by JMA was 930 mb. NMCC's peak wind estimate was higher at 110 kts (10-min avg). A graphic displaying the track of Typhoon Nesat may be found at the following link: D. Damage and Casualties ------------------------ There were no reports of damages or casualties associated with Typhoon Nesat/Dante. (Report written by Kevin Boyle) ************************************************************************* NORTH INDIAN OCEAN (NIO) - Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea Activity for June: 2 depressions North Indian Ocean Tropical Activity for June --------------------------------------------- Two depressions were identified by IMD during the month of June, 2005. One formed over the northeastern Arabian Sea on 21 June just off the Saurrashtra coast near Porbandar. The system moved westward and by 1200 UTC on 22 June was centered approximately 135 nm west of Porbandar. This depression was accompanied by intense convection initially, but apparently began to weaken late on the 22nd. No mention of it was made in the IMD Tropical Weather Outlook for 23 June. The other system formed at the end of the month over the northwestern Bay of Bengal and adjacent land areas. This depression for the most part remained over land and persisted for over a week, producing copious amounts of rainfall. A report on this land depression, compiled by Huang Chunliang, follows. (Neither of the above systems were classified by JTWC nor assigned invest numbers by NRL.) OVERLAND DEPRESSION 27 June - 6 July --------------------------------------- Following is a report sent by Huang Chunliang describing an overland depression which formed over the northwestern Bay of Bengal and adjacent land areas in late June and which was responsible for heavy rainfalls in several Indian states. A special thanks to Chunliang for preparing and sending the report. A. Introduction (Time in Local Time Zone, i.e. UTC+5.5 hrs) =========================================================== A low-pressure area formed over northwestern Bay of Bengal and adjoining Gangetic West Bengal and northern Orissa on the 27th. It became well-marked in the evening that day. Moving northwestwards, the system concentrated into a depression and lay over Jharkhand and adjoining Gangetic West Bengal close to Jamshedpur on the 28th & 29th. The depression moved slowly west-northwestwards and lay over Jharkhand and neighbouring areas with its centre close to Daltonganj on the 30th. Moving further west-northwestwards, it was seen over northeastern Madhya Pradesh and adjoining southeastern Uttar Pradesh with its centre close to Rewa on the 1st of July and close to Khajuraho on the 2nd. The system remained virtually stationary on the 3rd & 4th and lay close to Banda in southeastern Uttar Pradesh on the 5th. It further moved west- northwestwards and weakened into a well-marked low-pressure area over southwestern Uttar Pradesh and adjoining East Rajasthan on the 6th. The well-marked low-pressure area further weakened into a low-pressure area over northeastern Rajasthan and adjoining Haryana on the 7th. It became less marked on the 8th. (Slightly edited from the INDIA METEOROLOGICAL DEPARTMENTAL INDIA WEEKLY WEATHER REPORTS.) (Note: I've never seen IMD keep an overland system in depression status for so many days (more than a week indeed!!!), though neither NRL nor JTWC ever mentioned the system.) B. Daily Track from IMD ======================= 27/03Z LPA ----------- Over Northwestern BOB 28/03Z Depression 23.0N 86.0E Near JAMSHEDPUR(WMO 42798) 29/03Z Depression 23.0N 86.0E Near JAMSHEDPUR(WMO 42798) 30/03Z Depression 24.0N 84.0E Near DALTONGANJ(WMO 42587) 01/03Z Depression 24.5N 81.5E Near REWA(WMO 42574) 02/03Z Depression 25.0N 80.0E Near KHAJURAHO(WMO 42567) 03/03Z Depression 25.0N 80.0E Near KHAJURAHO(WMO 42567) 04/03Z Depression 25.0N 80.0E Near KHAJURAHO(WMO 42567) 05/03Z Depression 25.5N 80.5E Near BANDA(WMO 42473) 06/03Z LPA ----------- Over Southwestern UTTAR PRADESH (Note: The IMD bulletins didn't specify cyclone positions in digits, but with nearby cities/stations for overland systems. I just looked up the lat. & lon. for the five above-mentioned WMO stations and pinpointed them to the nearest half degree.) C. Rainfall Obs from India (only daily amounts >= 10 cm listed) =============================================================== Kalaikunda, WEST BENGAL 10 cm [27/03-28/03Z] Durgachak, WEST BENGAL 16 cm [27/03-28/03Z] Thakurmunda, ORISSA 38 cm [27/03-28/03Z] Telkoi, ORISSA 36 cm [27/03-28/03Z] Palahara, ORISSA 34 cm [27/03-28/03Z] Swampatna, ORISSA 18 cm [27/03-28/03Z] Deogarh, ORISSA 16 cm [27/03-28/03Z] Jetpur, ORISSA 15 cm [27/03-28/03Z] Rengali, ORISSA 15 cm [27/03-28/03Z] Karanjia, ORISSA 14 cm [27/03-28/03Z] Balasore, ORISSA 13 cm [27/03-28/03Z] Baripada, ORISSA 11 cm [27/03-28/03Z] Joshipur, ORISSA 11 cm [27/03-28/03Z] Keonjhargarh, ORISSA 11 cm [27/03-28/03Z] Komna, ORISSA 11 cm [27/03-28/03Z] Soro, ORISSA 11 cm [27/03-28/03Z] Akhuapada, ORISSA 10 cm [27/03-28/03Z] Bhogari, ORISSA 10 cm [27/03-28/03Z] Kamakhya Nagar, ORISSA 10 cm [27/03-28/03Z] Talcher, ORISSA 10 cm [27/03-28/03Z] Magra, WEST BENGAL 10 cm [28/03-29/03Z] Pallahara, ORISSA 30 cm [28/03-29/03Z] Deogarh, ORISSA 18 cm [28/03-29/03Z] Joshipur, ORISSA 18 cm [28/03-29/03Z] Champua, ORISSA 17 cm [28/03-29/03Z] Ambabonda, ORISSA 13 cm [28/03-29/03Z] Hirakund, ORISSA 12 cm [28/03-29/03Z] Jamankira, ORISSA 12 cm [28/03-29/03Z] Kuchinda, ORISSA 12 cm [28/03-29/03Z] Karanjia, ORISSA 11 cm [28/03-29/03Z] Sambalpur, ORISSA 11 cm [28/03-29/03Z] Sundergarh, ORISSA 11 cm [28/03-29/03Z] Keonjhargarh, ORISSA 10 cm [28/03-29/03Z] Panposh, ORISSA 10 cm [28/03-29/03Z] Rairangpur, ORISSA 10 cm [28/03-29/03Z] Bilaspur, CHHATTISGARH 28 cm [28/03-29/03Z] Raigarh, CHHATTISGARH 19 cm [28/03-29/03Z] Kalaghora, CHHATTISGARH 12 cm [28/03-29/03Z] Jajgir, CHHATTISGARH 10 cm [28/03-29/03Z] Sakti, CHHATTISGARH 10 cm [28/03-29/03Z] Ambikapur, CHHATTISGARH 17 cm [29/03-30/03Z] Jajgir, CHHATTISGARH 12 cm [29/03-30/03Z] Champa, CHHATTISGARH 12 cm [29/03-30/03Z] Dongargarh, CHHATTISGARH 11 cm [29/03-30/03Z] Jaspurnagar, CHHATTISGARH 10 cm [30/03-01/03Z] Satna, MADHYA PRADESH 19 cm [01/03-02/03Z] Banda, MADHYA PRADESH 26 cm [02/03-03/03Z] Satna, MADHYA PRADESH 19 cm [02/03-03/03Z] Katni, MADHYA PRADESH 14 cm [02/03-03/03Z] Sagar, MADHYA PRADESH 12 cm [02/03-03/03Z] Rewa, MADHYA PRADESH 11 cm [02/03-03/03Z] Sagar, MADHYA PRADESH 48 cm [03/03-04/03Z] Patan, MADHYA PRADESH 21 cm [03/03-04/03Z] Jabalpur, MADHYA PRADESH 16 cm [03/03-04/03Z] Katni, MADHYA PRADESH 14 cm [03/03-04/03Z] Narsinghpur, MADHYA PRADESH 12 cm [03/03-04/03Z] Tendukheda, MADHYA PRADESH 34 cm [04/03-05/03Z] Garhakota, MADHYA PRADESH 23 cm [04/03-05/03Z] Narsinghpur, MADHYA PRADESH 23 cm [04/03-05/03Z] Patan, MADHYA PRADESH 19 cm [04/03-05/03Z] Jabalpur, MADHYA PRADESH 17 cm [04/03-05/03Z] Katni, MADHYA PRADESH 16 cm [04/03-05/03Z] Panchmari, MADHYA PRADESH 13 cm [04/03-05/03Z] Chipaboard, RAJASTHAN 13 cm [05/03-06/03Z] Arnod, RAJASTHAN 12 cm [05/03-06/03Z] Malernandgaon, RAJASTHAN 11 cm [05/03-06/03Z] Nagaur, RAJASTHAN 11 cm [05/03-06/03Z] Chabra, RAJASTHAN 10 cm [05/03-06/03Z] Bhora, MADHYA PRADESH 10 cm [05/03-06/03Z] Jind, HARYANA 17 cm [06/03-07/03Z] Uchana, HARYANA 14 cm [06/03-07/03Z] Rohtak, HARYANA 12 cm [06/03-07/03Z] Narwana, HARYANA 10 cm [06/03-07/03Z] Bahadurgarh, RAJASTHAN 15 cm [06/03-07/03Z] Govindgarh, RAJASTHAN 14 cm [06/03-07/03Z] Ramgarh, RAJASTHAN 13 cm [06/03-07/03Z] Kishangarhwas, RAJASTHAN 12 cm [06/03-07/03Z] Mandawar, RAJASTHAN 12 cm [06/03-07/03Z] Laxmangarh, RAJASTHAN 11 cm [06/03-07/03Z] (Report compiled by Huang Chunliang) ************************************************************************* SOUTHWEST INDIAN OCEAN (SWI) - South Indian Ocean West of Longitude 90E Activity for June: No tropical cyclones ************************************************************************* NORTHWEST AUSTRALIA/SOUTHEAST INDIAN OCEAN (AUW) - From 90E to 135E Activity for June: No tropical cyclones ************************************************************************* NORTHEAST AUSTRALIA/CORAL SEA (AUE) - From 135E to 160E Activity for June: No tropical cyclones Northeast Australia/Coral Sea Tropical Activity for June ----------------------------- No tropical or hybrid cyclones formed in Coral Sea waters during June, but an extreme rain event in southeastern Queensland and northeastern New South Wales at the end of the month is worth reporting. I do not have available all the details of the synoptic situation which led to the torrential downpours, but a tropical airstream bringing in tons of moist, unstable air was involved. An e-mail from Jeff Callaghan alluded to 24-hour totals of 510 mm (most falling in 12 hours) and hourly totals to 144 mm. Michael Bath, who lives at McLeans Ridges, NSW, about 10 km up the Wilsons River from Lismore, reported that he recorded 450 mm in 36 hours, with 265 mm in the 24 hours ending at 9:00 AM local time on 30 June. As much as 58 mm fell in 40 minutes on the morning of the 30th with 48 mm being recorded in 30 minutes the previous evening. The central business district of Lismore was spared major flooding by a new $19 million levee which had been completed in April of 2005. The Wilsons River there rose to 10.2 metres above normal levels. Many places in the eastern half of the river's catchment area received 500 mm of rain. According to Simon Clarke, Cleveland (near Brisbane) recorded 345 mm of rain in five days with 266 mm falling in a 24-hour period. There were reports of two persons missing and one fatality due to the flooding. According to Carl Smith, who lives on Queensland's Gold Coast, every suburb along the entire Gold Coast was suffering flooding, over 70 arterial roads and highways were closed due to floods, no one could get anywhere, many businesses were closed as staff were unable to leave their homes to get to work, busses were not running, taxi services had stopped with many cabs having been washed away from the depot, emergency services were having real difficulty in attending hundreds of call outs, the hospital was running in emergency-only mode with just a skeleton staff, the airport was closed, etc. (Carl, by the way, had some flooding problems in his own home from the torrential rainfall.) A special thanks to Jeff Callaghan, Michael Bath, Carl Smith, Phil Smith and Simon Clarke who contributed information regarding this remarkable rainfall and flooding event. ************************************************************************* SOUTH PACIFIC (SPA) - South Pacific Ocean East of Longitude 160E Activity for June: 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 Monterry 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: 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): 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 2004 (2003-2004 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 2004 Atlantic and Eastern North Pacific tropical cyclones; also, storm reports for all the 2004 Atlantic and Eastern North Pacific cyclones are now available, as well as track charts and reports on storms from earlier years. The URL is: A special thanks to Michael Bath of McLeans Ridges, New South Wales, Australia, for assisting me with proofreading the summaries. PREPARED BY Gary Padgett E-mail: garyp@alaweb.com Phone: 334-222-5327 Kevin Boyle (Eastern Atlantic, Western Northwest Pacific, South China Sea) E-mail: newchapelobservatory@btinternet.com John Wallace (Assistance with Eastern North Pacific) E-mail: dosidicus@aol.com Huang Chunliang (Assistance with Western Northwest Pacific, South China Sea) E-mail: huangchunliang@hotmail.com Simon Clarke (Northeast Australia/Coral Sea, South Pacific) E-mail: saclarke@iprimus.com.au ************************************************************************* ************************************************************************* Posted: 08.07.05 / Typhoon2000.ph, Typhoon2000.com