2004 Myanmar cyclone
Meteorological history | |
---|---|
Formed | May 16, 2004 |
Dissipated | May 19, 2004 |
Extremely severe cyclonic storm | |
3-minute sustained (IMD) | |
Highest winds | 165 km/h (105 mph) |
Lowest pressure | 952 hPa (mbar); 28.11 inHg |
Category 1-equivalent tropical cyclone | |
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC) | |
Highest winds | 120 km/h (75 mph) |
Lowest pressure | 976 hPa (mbar); 28.82 inHg |
Overall effects | |
Fatalities | 236 total |
Damage | $99.2 million (2004 USD) |
Areas affected | Odisha, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Yunnan |
IBTrACS | |
Part of the 2004 North Indian Ocean cyclone season |
The 2004 Myanmar cyclone was considered the worst to strike the country since 1968. The second tropical cyclone of the 2004 North Indian Ocean cyclone season, it formed as a depression on May 16 in the central Bay of Bengal. With low wind shear and a surge in the monsoon trough, the storm intensified while meandering over open waters. The storm eventually began a steady northeastward motion due to a ridge to the north over India. While approaching land, an eye developed in the center of the storm, indicative of a strong cyclone. On May 19, the cyclone made landfall along northwestern Myanmar near Sittwe, with maximum sustained winds estimated at 165 km/h (105 mph) by the India Meteorological Department. The storm rapidly weakened over land, although its remnants spread rainfall into northern Thailand and Yunnan province in China.
Winds from the cyclone reached 157 km/h (98 mph) in Myanmar, occurring in conjunction with heavy rainfall and a high
Meteorological history
Late on May 14, an area of
The nascent system quickly organized, aided by the decreasing wind shear,[1] as well as a surge in the monsoon.[2] The IMD upgraded the depression to a cyclonic storm at 03:00 UTC on May 17.[3] At 12:00 UTC that day, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC)[nb 2] began issuing warnings on the system with its own designation Tropical Cyclone 02B. With weak steering currents, the storm meandered over the central Bay of Bengal, executing a small cyclonic loop over 30 hours.[6] The cloud pattern organized into a central dense overcast that was initially irregular in nature. However, the storm quickly intensified on May 18, strengthening into a severe cyclonic storm and later very severe cyclonic storm. During this time, the cyclone turned eastward under the influence of a ridge over India to the north.[3]
A buoy near the storm's center recorded a pressure of 994 mbar (29.4 inHg) on May 18, the lowest recorded pressure in association with the storm. Convection increased around the center and organized into a distinct eye.[3] The JTWC upgraded the cyclone to the equivalent of a minimal hurricane at 00:00 UTC on May 19, estimating peak 1 minute sustained winds of 120 km/h (75 mph).[6] The IMD assessed a much higher intensity, estimating peak 3 minute winds of 165 km/h (105 mph) at 03:00 UTC that day.[3] About an hour later, the cyclone made landfall at peak intensity with an estimated pressure of 952 mbar (28.1 inHg) in northwestern Myanmar near Sittwe, near the country's border with Bangladesh.[1][3][6] It weakened gradually over land,[3] dissipating over Myanmar late on May 19.[6]
Impact
While stalling in the Bay of Bengal, the cyclone's outskirts dropped light to moderate rainfall along the eastern coast of India. In Odisha, two locations reported daily rainfall totals of 40 mm (1.6 in).[3] Upon making landfall, the cyclone's effects spread into southeastern Bangladesh, where heavy rainfall and high winds forced about 50,000 people to evacuate to shelters. The winds also knocked down trees and power lines. Two boats sank off Cox's Bazar, leaving five fishermen missing. Later, the remnants of the cyclone dropped heavy rainfall in northern Thailand, reaching 112.4 mm (4.43 in) in 24 hours at the Bhumibol Dam. In the nearby Yunnan province in China, precipitation reached 75.5 mm (2.97 in) in Ruili.[1]
Myanmar
Damage was heaviest in Myanmar where the storm moved ashore, and winds of 157 km/h (98 mph) were reported.
For 10 days, Myanmar's
The
Aftermath
On May 27, the Myanmar government issued a rare appeal for aid to the international community in response to damage from the storm.[10][13] The request included $220,000 (USD) worth of rice, tarpaulin sheets for temporary shelter, medicine, and clothing,[10] to assist 14,000 people. In early June, the government issued an updated appeal to request $337,000 (USD) to help 25,000 people, after the scope of the disaster became better known.[16] The Red Cross operation responding to the cyclone ended in December 2004, which marked the first time the agency had a major response to a disaster. It worked in conjunction with the World Food Programme, Bridge Asia Japan, and the Myanmar Maternal and Child Welfare Association, utilizing some private donations. Red Cross volunteers helped clear roads and clean ponds to return areas to normalcy.[12] Typically, the government handles relief measures.[16]
In the days following the storm, Myanmar's Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement assessed damage in the affected areas to determine needs, and also coordinated relief efforts.
In response to the aid request, various United Nations agencies sent $175,000 (USD) worth of financial or material assistance to the country. The World Food Programme provided 50 kg (110 lb) of rice to 3,700 families for three months, and UNICEF provided medicines, corrugated sheeting, and latrine slabs.[10] The government of Japan donated about ¥10 million worth of supplies, including blankets and water.[17] The Chinese Red Cross donated about $20,000 (USD) worth of relief.[9] Eight other governments and Red Cross chapters donated CHF331,432 francs worth of aid or supplies.[22]
See also
- Cyclone Nargis – devastating cyclone that struck Myanmar in 2008
- Cyclone Mala – another storm that struck the country in 2006
Notes
- Regional Specialized Meteorological Center for the northern Indian Ocean.[4]
- ^ The Joint Typhoon Warning Center is a joint United States Navy – United States Air Force task force that issues tropical cyclone warnings for the northern Indian Ocean and other regions.[5]
- ^ The damage was originally reported in 2004 Myanmar kyat. Conversion provided by the Oanda Corporation.[18]
References
- ^ a b c d e f Gary Padgett (2000). "Monthly Tropical Weather Summary for May 2004". Archived from the original on 2012-02-12. Retrieved 2015-05-24.
- ^ a b Darwin Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre (May 2004). "Darwin Tropical Diagnostic Statement" (PDF). Bureau of Meteorology: 2. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2015-06-07. Retrieved 2015-05-24.
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(help) - ^ a b c d e f g h i Report on Cyclonic Disturbances Over North Indian Ocean During 2004 (PDF) (Report). India Meteorological Department. January 2005. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2015-05-24.
- ^ RSMC New Delhi. Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre (RSMC) – Tropical Cyclones, New Delhi (PDF) (Report). India Meteorological Department. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-09-04. Retrieved 2015-04-24.
- ^ Joint Typhoon Warning Center (2011). "Joint Typhoon Warning Center Mission Statement". United States Navy, United States Airforce. Archived from the original on 2007-07-26. Retrieved 2011-11-30.
- ^ a b c d Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Annual Tropical Cyclone Report (PDF) (Report). United States Navy. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2013-12-06. Retrieved 2015-05-24.
- ^ a b c d Myanmar: Floods Information Bulletin No. 1/2004. International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies (Report). ReliefWeb. 2004-06-01. Archived from the original on 2015-05-26. Retrieved 2015-05-25.
- ^ Steve Lang (2004-05-19). "Tropical Storm brings Heavy Rains to Burma". NASA. Archived from the original on 2010-03-16. Retrieved 2015-05-25.
- ^ a b c d "Cyclone Relief in Arakan Denied to Rohingyas". Kaladan Press. Asian Tribune. 2004-06-19. Archived from the original on 2015-06-07. Retrieved 2015-05-25.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Myanmar: Storm OCHA Situation Report No. 1. United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (Report). ReliefWeb. 2004-05-27. Archived from the original on 2015-05-26. Retrieved 2015-05-25.
- ^ Jesse Allen (2004-05-26). "Flooding in Myanmar". NASA. Archived from the original on 2011-03-16. Retrieved 2015-05-25.
- ^ a b Myanmar: Cyclone Rakhine Appeal No. 14/2004 Final Report. International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies (Report). ReliefWeb. 2004-12-03. Archived from the original on 2015-06-08. Retrieved 2015-05-25.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Myanmar breaks silence over deadly cyclone, says many dead and missing". UNICEF. Agence France-Presse. 2004-05-29. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-05-25.
- ^ a b "Myanmar cyclone toll: at least 140 dead – UN says at least 18,000 homeless from May 19 storm". UNICEF. Associated Press. 2004-05-28. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-05-25.
- ^ Myanmar Appeal No. 01.65/2004 Annual Report. International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies (Report). ReliefWeb. 2005-05-27. Archived from the original on 2015-05-26. Retrieved 2015-05-25.
- ^ a b c d e f Myanmar: Cyclone Rakhine Appeal No. 14/2004 Operations Update No. 1. International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies (Report). ReliefWeb. 2004-06-08. Archived from the original on 2015-05-26. Retrieved 2015-05-25.
- ^ a b Emergency aid for cyclone disaster in the western part of the Union of Myanmar. Government of Japan (Report). ReliefWeb. 2004-05-28. Archived from the original on 2015-05-26. Retrieved 2015-05-25.
- ^ "Historical Exchange Rates". Oanda Corporation. 2015. Archived from the original on 2013-10-04. Retrieved 2015-05-25.
- ^ "Cyclone Nargis Update" (PDF). Center for Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance. 2008-05-08. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-03-24. Retrieved 2015-05-27.
- ^ "Myanmar PM tours region devastated by cyclone". ReliefWeb. Agence France-Presse. 2004-06-09. Archived from the original on 2015-06-08. Retrieved 2015-05-25.
- ^ "News Briefs" (PDF). Burma Issues. Vol. 14, no. 6. June 2004. p. 8. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2015-05-25.
- ^ Myanmar: Rakhine Cyclone (PDF) (Report). International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies. 2004-12-03. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2009-08-07. Retrieved 2015-05-25.