Spare a thought for those who spent a nervous, very wet and windy Christmas period as Tropical Storm Quinta went through the south of the Philippines, in areas trying to recover from Tyhoon Bopha earlier in the month.
Activated during the storm was the Philippines Amateur Radio Association emergency net on 7.095 MHz and VHF, to handle emergency and welfare traffic.
A request to keep the HF frequency clear was issued by PARA's Vice Chief Operating Officer, Ramon J. Anquilan DU1UGZ. The emergency had passed and he expressed many thanks on behalf of PARA for use of the frequency.
Among those involved in the emergency were members of the PARA-affiliated club, The District 5 Radio Amateur Network DX5RAN.
They were kept busy coordinating much needed pre-emptive evacuations in Tacloban City and elsewhere alongside the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
Other radio amateurs were also involved in the overall emergency.
Landslides occurred in the Visayas, Southern Leyte and Eastern Samar areas.
There were more than 5,800 ferry passengers stranded with fishermen told not to venture out.
The archipelago has numerous severe weather events each year. Typhoon Bopha which made landfall over Mindanao on December the 2nd ripped through the southern provinces killing 1,067 people, leaving hundreds missing and many more homeless.
Jim Linton VK3PC
Chairman IARU Region 3 Disaster Communications Committee,
with
Ramon J. Anquilan DU1UGZ
PARA Vice Chief Operating Officer
- Southgate Amateur Radio News
Showing posts with label Typhoons. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Typhoons. Show all posts
Thursday, 27 December 2012
Tropical storm Quinta hits the Philippines
Activated again for Tropical Storm Quinta are members of the Philippines Amateur Radio Association emergency net on 7.095 MHz and VHF, to handle any emergency and welfare traffic.
PARA Vice Chief Operating Officer, Ramon J. Anquilan DU1UGZ, requested that the HF channel be kept clear to deal with whatever contingencies may arise.
The Ham Emergency Radio Operators know what to do, with about 20 typhoons in the archipelago every year, often causing death and destruction.
Communities were on put on alert Christmas Day as a low pressure area developed into a storm and made landfall on Wednesday, December 26 to travel through the Visayas.
Officials warned that the areas within a 350 kilometre diameter of Tropical Storm Quinta should expect heavy to intense rainfall.
The public warnings included more heavy rains, possible flash floods and landslides over the next few days.
Pre-emptive evacuations were ordered for several islands and low lying areas, which included some areas already badly affected earlier by Typhoon Pablo that destroyed houses and agricultutal land in early December.
Hundreds of ferry passengers are left stranded during the latest storm. Warnings have been also issued to fishing and small seacraft to stay tied up over the eastern seaboard off Luzon and over the Visayas and Mindanao.
Those affected earlier this month by Typhoon Bopha are in temporary shelters and relying on donated food.
Bopha was the most intense storm to hit the Philippines recently, affecting communities near the coast in the southern provinces with 1,067 dead and more than 800 missing.
Jim Linton VK3PC
Chairman IARU Region 3 Disaster Communications Committee,
with
Ramon J. Anquilan DU1UGZ
PARA Vice Chief Operating Officer
PARA Vice Chief Operating Officer, Ramon J. Anquilan DU1UGZ, requested that the HF channel be kept clear to deal with whatever contingencies may arise.
The Ham Emergency Radio Operators know what to do, with about 20 typhoons in the archipelago every year, often causing death and destruction.
Communities were on put on alert Christmas Day as a low pressure area developed into a storm and made landfall on Wednesday, December 26 to travel through the Visayas.
Officials warned that the areas within a 350 kilometre diameter of Tropical Storm Quinta should expect heavy to intense rainfall.
The public warnings included more heavy rains, possible flash floods and landslides over the next few days.
Pre-emptive evacuations were ordered for several islands and low lying areas, which included some areas already badly affected earlier by Typhoon Pablo that destroyed houses and agricultutal land in early December.
Hundreds of ferry passengers are left stranded during the latest storm. Warnings have been also issued to fishing and small seacraft to stay tied up over the eastern seaboard off Luzon and over the Visayas and Mindanao.
Those affected earlier this month by Typhoon Bopha are in temporary shelters and relying on donated food.
Bopha was the most intense storm to hit the Philippines recently, affecting communities near the coast in the southern provinces with 1,067 dead and more than 800 missing.
Jim Linton VK3PC
Chairman IARU Region 3 Disaster Communications Committee,
with
Ramon J. Anquilan DU1UGZ
PARA Vice Chief Operating Officer
Tuesday, 11 December 2012
Typhoon Bopha
In early December 2012, Bopha made landfall in the southern Philippines as a powerful typhoon. Bopha weakened to a tropical storm after passing over the southern Philippines, but regained typhoon strength over the South China Sea on December 7. On December 8, Unisys Weather reported that Bopha was headed back toward the Philippines.
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite captured this natural-color image on December 8, when Bopha was situated over the South China Sea, just off the Philippine island of Luzon.
After regaining strength over the South China Sea, Bopha again weakened to a tropical storm on December 8, and to a tropical depression on December 9. As the storm wound down west of the northern Philippines, authorities assessed the damage in the southern Philippines. On December 10, 2012, the United Nations’ Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN) reported that at least 647 people had been killed, and another 780 people remained missing. The storm had displaced more than 360,000 residents.
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite captured this natural-color image on December 8, when Bopha was situated over the South China Sea, just off the Philippine island of Luzon.
After regaining strength over the South China Sea, Bopha again weakened to a tropical storm on December 8, and to a tropical depression on December 9. As the storm wound down west of the northern Philippines, authorities assessed the damage in the southern Philippines. On December 10, 2012, the United Nations’ Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN) reported that at least 647 people had been killed, and another 780 people remained missing. The storm had displaced more than 360,000 residents.
References
- IRIN (2012, December 10) Still struggling to reach Typhoon Bopha survivors. Accessed December 10, 2012.
- Unisys Weather (2012, December 10) Bopha Tracking Information. Accessed December 10, 2012.
NASA image courtesy Jeff Schmaltz, LANCE MODIS Rapid Response. Caption by Michon Scott.
- Instrument:
- Terra - MODIS - NASA
Monday, 10 December 2012
Hams ready as typhoon hits twice
The powerful Typhoon Bopha that killed at least 600 people and left
many missing in southern Philippines last week, made an unexpected
U-turn to hit the northern part of the archipelago.
Active during both disasters were the planned ham radio networks, organised through the national IARU society, the Philippines Amateur Radio Association (PARA).
When the typhoon was first seen on the weather radar heading for the southern island of Mindanao, PARA was hosting its 80th birthday celebrations in Manila.
Almost immediately it asked for the nets to be activated on VHF and for long haul traffic 7095 kHz, echo-link and Facebook.
What unfolded was an outstanding effort for the amateur radio community that included evacuations of riverside and low-lying communities and coordination of rescues including those at sea.
The networks played an important coordination role in the south with the Disaster Response Team of the Philippine Red Cross, Delta Fire Volunteers, and the Coastguard.
Among the action was DX5RAN, the District 5 Radio Amateur Network. That net worked with the City Government of Tacloban and the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council. There were many other radio amateurs involved.
Rescuers there were faced with rocks, mudslides and rubble where houses once stood. More than 1,000 were injured and about 370,000 are in temporary shelter areas.
The Philippines is counting its huge economic losses in the south, including the loss of valuable export banana plantations at Mindanao.
Humanitarian agencies estimate 5.4 million people affected by the typhoon urgently need food, drinkable water and shelter after Bopha wiped out 90 per cent of houses in the worst-hit towns in Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental.
In the north last weekend the typhoon did a U-turn, and although downgraded to a tropical storm hit a country already having 16 severe weather incidents in the past year.
The emergency nets of PARA were again active as heavy rains and wind came ashore at North Luzon.
The Vice Chief Operating Officer of PARA, Ramon J. Anquilan DU1UGZ, said both nets were now closed.
He thanked the worldwide community for their assistance in coordinating the activities so that the calling frequency was not burdened by superfluous transmissions.
Jim Linton VK3PC
Chairman IARU Region 3 Disaster Communications Committee.
- Southgate Amateur Radio News
Active during both disasters were the planned ham radio networks, organised through the national IARU society, the Philippines Amateur Radio Association (PARA).
When the typhoon was first seen on the weather radar heading for the southern island of Mindanao, PARA was hosting its 80th birthday celebrations in Manila.
Almost immediately it asked for the nets to be activated on VHF and for long haul traffic 7095 kHz, echo-link and Facebook.
What unfolded was an outstanding effort for the amateur radio community that included evacuations of riverside and low-lying communities and coordination of rescues including those at sea.
The networks played an important coordination role in the south with the Disaster Response Team of the Philippine Red Cross, Delta Fire Volunteers, and the Coastguard.
Among the action was DX5RAN, the District 5 Radio Amateur Network. That net worked with the City Government of Tacloban and the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council. There were many other radio amateurs involved.
Rescuers there were faced with rocks, mudslides and rubble where houses once stood. More than 1,000 were injured and about 370,000 are in temporary shelter areas.
The Philippines is counting its huge economic losses in the south, including the loss of valuable export banana plantations at Mindanao.
Humanitarian agencies estimate 5.4 million people affected by the typhoon urgently need food, drinkable water and shelter after Bopha wiped out 90 per cent of houses in the worst-hit towns in Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental.
In the north last weekend the typhoon did a U-turn, and although downgraded to a tropical storm hit a country already having 16 severe weather incidents in the past year.
The emergency nets of PARA were again active as heavy rains and wind came ashore at North Luzon.
The Vice Chief Operating Officer of PARA, Ramon J. Anquilan DU1UGZ, said both nets were now closed.
He thanked the worldwide community for their assistance in coordinating the activities so that the calling frequency was not burdened by superfluous transmissions.
Jim Linton VK3PC
Chairman IARU Region 3 Disaster Communications Committee.
- Southgate Amateur Radio News
Friday, 7 December 2012
NASA Satellites Analyze Typhoon Bopha Inside and Out
Typhoon Bopha proved deadly to residents in the Mindanao region of the Philippines after ravaging islands in Micronesia. NASA's Aqua and TRMM satellites peered at the storm inside and out, providing forecasters with valuable data as the storm moved into the South China Sea.
On Dec. 5, 2012, Bopha crossed over Palawan and entered the South China Sea after crossing over the southern Philippines' Mindanao region, leaving death and destruction in its wake. According to Reuters news reports on Dec. 5, at least at total of 283 people were killed and hundreds remain missing in the Philippines. The hardest-hit province in Mindanao was Compostela, where flood waters and mudslides swept through the town and killed at least 150 people. Homes were destroyed, roads were flooded and washed out, and it was estimated that as much as 80 percent of plantations were destroyed.
The MODIS instrument aboard NASA's Aqua satellite captured this visible image of Typhoon Bopha moving over Palawan and entering the South China Sea on Dec. 5 at 05:20 UTC (12:20 a.m. EST, U.S.).
Credit: NASA Goddard's MODIS Rapid Response Team
On Dec. 2, 2012, NASA and the Japanese Space Agency's Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite passed over Super Typhoon Bopha. Data from the overpass was used to create a 3-D image that showed that the inner eyewall was being replaced by an outer eyewall, something that typically happens in major typhoons. There was also a "hot tower" thunderstorm reaching 12 kilometers (7.4 miles) high, located north of the center of circulation. NASA research indicates that whenever a "hot tower" is spotted in a tropical cyclone, the storm usually intensifies within 6 hours. The data also indicated the highest, most powerful thunderstorms were around the center where cloud top temperatures were as cold as -90 Celsius (-130F).
On Dec. 5 at 0517 UTC (12:17 a.m. EST), the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument that flies aboard NASA's Aqua satellite captured an infrared view of Typhoon Bopha's cloud-top temperatures as it was exiting Palawan and moving into the South China Sea. The AIRS data identified areas of bitterly cold cloud-top temperatures of 210 kelvin (-63C/-81F) where the strongest thunderstorms, with highest cloud tops, and heaviest rainfall were found. One area was located over the South China Sea and the other over northern Palawan at the time of the image.
Three minutes later, another instrument aboard Aqua captured a visible image of Typhoon Bopha. The image revealed that Bopha's clouds covered the entire island of Palawan, and where the AIRS instrument revealed the coldest cloud top temperatures, those areas of clouds appeared the brightest white in the visible image, because they were higher than the surrounding clouds, and cast shadows on the lower clouds. The strongest thunderstorms have waned around the center of circulation during the early part of Dec. 5, although a tightly curved band of thunderstorms remained along the western and northern quadrants.
On Dec. 5 at 1500 UTC (10 a.m. EST) Bopha's maximum sustained winds were near 75 knots (86 mph/139 kph). It was located near 11.5 north latitude and 117.4 east longitude, about 270 nautical miles southwest of Manila, Philippines. Bopha is moving to the northwest near 11 knots (12.6 mph/20 kph) and is expected to slow down in the South China Sea.
Bopha is expected to continue tracking generally west-northwest into the South China Sea and become quasi-stationary over the next couple of days.
This 3-D image of Super Typhoon Bopha was created using data from NASA's Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite on Dec. 2, 2012. TRMM 3-D data showed that the inner eyewall was being replaced by an outer eyewall, something that typically happens in major typhoons. There was also a "hot tower" thunderstorm reaching 12 kilometers (7.4 miles) high, located north of the center of circulation. NASA research indicates that whenever a "hot tower" is spotted in a tropical cyclone, the storm usually intensifies within 6 hours. The graphic also indicates where the highest, most powerful thunderstorms were around the center by the rounded area indicating cloud top temperatures of -90 Celsius.
Credit: NASA/SSAI, Hal Pierce
NASA's Aqua satellite's AIRS instrument captured this infrared view of Typhoon Bopha's cloud-top temperatures on Dec. 5 at 0517 UTC (12:17 a.m. EST) as it was exiting Palawan and moving into the South China Sea. The purple areas indicate bitterly cold cloud-top temperatures of 210 kelvin (-63C/-81F) and are areas of the strongest thunderstorms, with highest cloud tops, and heaviest rainfall.
Credit: NASA JPL, Ed Olsen
Text credit: Rob Gutro, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. - NASA
On Dec. 5, 2012, Bopha crossed over Palawan and entered the South China Sea after crossing over the southern Philippines' Mindanao region, leaving death and destruction in its wake. According to Reuters news reports on Dec. 5, at least at total of 283 people were killed and hundreds remain missing in the Philippines. The hardest-hit province in Mindanao was Compostela, where flood waters and mudslides swept through the town and killed at least 150 people. Homes were destroyed, roads were flooded and washed out, and it was estimated that as much as 80 percent of plantations were destroyed.
The MODIS instrument aboard NASA's Aqua satellite captured this visible image of Typhoon Bopha moving over Palawan and entering the South China Sea on Dec. 5 at 05:20 UTC (12:20 a.m. EST, U.S.).
Credit: NASA Goddard's MODIS Rapid Response Team
On Dec. 2, 2012, NASA and the Japanese Space Agency's Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite passed over Super Typhoon Bopha. Data from the overpass was used to create a 3-D image that showed that the inner eyewall was being replaced by an outer eyewall, something that typically happens in major typhoons. There was also a "hot tower" thunderstorm reaching 12 kilometers (7.4 miles) high, located north of the center of circulation. NASA research indicates that whenever a "hot tower" is spotted in a tropical cyclone, the storm usually intensifies within 6 hours. The data also indicated the highest, most powerful thunderstorms were around the center where cloud top temperatures were as cold as -90 Celsius (-130F).
On Dec. 5 at 0517 UTC (12:17 a.m. EST), the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument that flies aboard NASA's Aqua satellite captured an infrared view of Typhoon Bopha's cloud-top temperatures as it was exiting Palawan and moving into the South China Sea. The AIRS data identified areas of bitterly cold cloud-top temperatures of 210 kelvin (-63C/-81F) where the strongest thunderstorms, with highest cloud tops, and heaviest rainfall were found. One area was located over the South China Sea and the other over northern Palawan at the time of the image.
Three minutes later, another instrument aboard Aqua captured a visible image of Typhoon Bopha. The image revealed that Bopha's clouds covered the entire island of Palawan, and where the AIRS instrument revealed the coldest cloud top temperatures, those areas of clouds appeared the brightest white in the visible image, because they were higher than the surrounding clouds, and cast shadows on the lower clouds. The strongest thunderstorms have waned around the center of circulation during the early part of Dec. 5, although a tightly curved band of thunderstorms remained along the western and northern quadrants.
On Dec. 5 at 1500 UTC (10 a.m. EST) Bopha's maximum sustained winds were near 75 knots (86 mph/139 kph). It was located near 11.5 north latitude and 117.4 east longitude, about 270 nautical miles southwest of Manila, Philippines. Bopha is moving to the northwest near 11 knots (12.6 mph/20 kph) and is expected to slow down in the South China Sea.
Bopha is expected to continue tracking generally west-northwest into the South China Sea and become quasi-stationary over the next couple of days.
This 3-D image of Super Typhoon Bopha was created using data from NASA's Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite on Dec. 2, 2012. TRMM 3-D data showed that the inner eyewall was being replaced by an outer eyewall, something that typically happens in major typhoons. There was also a "hot tower" thunderstorm reaching 12 kilometers (7.4 miles) high, located north of the center of circulation. NASA research indicates that whenever a "hot tower" is spotted in a tropical cyclone, the storm usually intensifies within 6 hours. The graphic also indicates where the highest, most powerful thunderstorms were around the center by the rounded area indicating cloud top temperatures of -90 Celsius.
Credit: NASA/SSAI, Hal Pierce
NASA's Aqua satellite's AIRS instrument captured this infrared view of Typhoon Bopha's cloud-top temperatures on Dec. 5 at 0517 UTC (12:17 a.m. EST) as it was exiting Palawan and moving into the South China Sea. The purple areas indicate bitterly cold cloud-top temperatures of 210 kelvin (-63C/-81F) and are areas of the strongest thunderstorms, with highest cloud tops, and heaviest rainfall.
Credit: NASA JPL, Ed Olsen
Text credit: Rob Gutro, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. - NASA
Bopha over the South China Sea
Bopha weakened from a typhoon to a tropical storm after passing over the southern Philippines in early December 2012. On December 6, the U.S. Navy’s Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) reported that Bopha had maximum sustained winds of 55 knots (100 kilometers per hour) and gusts up to 70 knots (130 kilometers per hour).
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite captured this natural-color image on December 6, 2012, when Bopha was situated over the South China Sea. Although the storm retained the apostrophe shape characteristic of strong storms, it now lacked a distinct eye.
Bopha reached the South China Sea after passing over the southern Philippines, including the island of Mindanao. It was the worst typhoon to strike the Philippines in 2012, news reports said. As of December 7 (Philippines Time Zone), the storm had left nearly 200,000 people homeless, 380 people missing, and more than 300 people dead, according to the Philippine Daily Inquirer. The Guardian reported a death toll of 379, adding that the typhoon had ”washed away emergency shelters, a military camp and possibly entire families.”
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite captured this natural-color image on December 6, 2012, when Bopha was situated over the South China Sea. Although the storm retained the apostrophe shape characteristic of strong storms, it now lacked a distinct eye.
Bopha reached the South China Sea after passing over the southern Philippines, including the island of Mindanao. It was the worst typhoon to strike the Philippines in 2012, news reports said. As of December 7 (Philippines Time Zone), the storm had left nearly 200,000 people homeless, 380 people missing, and more than 300 people dead, according to the Philippine Daily Inquirer. The Guardian reported a death toll of 379, adding that the typhoon had ”washed away emergency shelters, a military camp and possibly entire families.”
References
- Agencies in New Bataan. (2012, December 6) Typhoon Bopha: Philippines death toll climbs. The Guardian. Accessed December 6, 2012.
- Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Accessed December 6, 2012.
- Unisys Weather. (2012, December 6) Bopha Tracking Information. Accessed December 6, 2012.
- Yap, D.J. (2012, December 7, Philippines Time Zone) Search on for 380 missing. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Accessed December 6, 2012.
NASA image courtesy Jeff Schmaltz, LANCE MODIS Rapid Response. Caption by Michon Scott.
- Instrument:
- Terra - MODIS - NASA
Wednesday, 5 December 2012
Bopha Makes Landfall
As predicted, Typhoon Bopha made landfall on the Philippine island of Mindanao overnight December 3–4, 2012. Known in the Philippines as Pablo, the storm was blamed for 43 deaths and 25 injuries as of December 4, according to the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on the Suomi NPP satellite acquired this image around 1:12 a.m. local time on December 4 (17:12 UTC on December 3). This image is from the VIIRS “day-night band,” which detects light in a range of wavelengths from green to near-infrared and uses filtering techniques to observe signals such as gas flares, auroras, wildfires, city lights, and reflected moonlight.
Bopha remained a powerful typhoon as it made landfall on Mindanao, retaining a distinct eye and spiral shape as storm clouds stretched over the eastern part of the island. Unisys Weather reported that Bopha carried super-typhoon strength at the time it was coming ashore. William Straka, associate researcher at the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, estimated that the storm spanned at least 1,677 kilometers (1,042 miles).
Bopha lost some strength after making landfall. On December 4 (late in the evening in the Philippines), the U.S. Navy’s Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) reported that the storm had maximum sustained winds of 95 knots (175 kilometers per hour) and gusts up to 115 knots (215 kilometers per hour)—still a fierce storm, but weakened since the previous day. The JTWC projected storm track showed Bopha continuing its movement toward the west-northwest, passing over the southern Philippines toward the South China Sea.
The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on the Suomi NPP satellite acquired this image around 1:12 a.m. local time on December 4 (17:12 UTC on December 3). This image is from the VIIRS “day-night band,” which detects light in a range of wavelengths from green to near-infrared and uses filtering techniques to observe signals such as gas flares, auroras, wildfires, city lights, and reflected moonlight.
Bopha remained a powerful typhoon as it made landfall on Mindanao, retaining a distinct eye and spiral shape as storm clouds stretched over the eastern part of the island. Unisys Weather reported that Bopha carried super-typhoon strength at the time it was coming ashore. William Straka, associate researcher at the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, estimated that the storm spanned at least 1,677 kilometers (1,042 miles).
Bopha lost some strength after making landfall. On December 4 (late in the evening in the Philippines), the U.S. Navy’s Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) reported that the storm had maximum sustained winds of 95 knots (175 kilometers per hour) and gusts up to 115 knots (215 kilometers per hour)—still a fierce storm, but weakened since the previous day. The JTWC projected storm track showed Bopha continuing its movement toward the west-northwest, passing over the southern Philippines toward the South China Sea.
References
- Erdman, J. (2012, December 4) Typhoon Bopha hammers Philippines. The Weather Channel. Accessed December 4, 2012.
- Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Accessed December 4, 2012.
- Mangosing, F. (2012, December 4) 43 dead, 25 inured in Compostela Valley as “Pablo” sweeps Mindanao. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Accessed December 4, 2012.
- Unisys Weather. (2012, December 4) Bopha Tracking Information. Accessed December 4, 2012.
NASA Earth Observatory image by Jesse Allen, using VIIRS day-night band data from the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership. Suomi NPP is the result of a partnership between NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Department of Defense. Caption by Michon Scott.
- Instrument:
- Suomi NPP - VIIRS - NASA
Tuesday, 4 December 2012
Typhoon Bopha
Bopha continued moving toward the Philippines on December 3, 2012. The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on the Suomi NPP satellite acquired this natural-color image the same day. Over the previous day, Bopha moved west of Palau, and by December 3, storm clouds were skirting the island of Mindanao.
The same day that VIIRS acquired this image, the U.S. Navy’s Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) reported that Bopha packed sustained winds of 140 knots (260 kilometers per hour) and gusts up to 170 knots (315 kilometers per hour). The storm was located about 630 nautical miles (1,170 kilometers) southeast of the Philippine capital of Manila, and was moving toward the west-northwest, JTWC reported.
The same day that VIIRS acquired this image, the U.S. Navy’s Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) reported that Bopha packed sustained winds of 140 knots (260 kilometers per hour) and gusts up to 170 knots (315 kilometers per hour). The storm was located about 630 nautical miles (1,170 kilometers) southeast of the Philippine capital of Manila, and was moving toward the west-northwest, JTWC reported.
References
- Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Accessed December 3, 2012.
- Unisys Weather. (2012, December 3) Bopha Tracking Information. Accessed December 3, 2012.
NASA Earth Observatory image by Jesse Allen, using VIIRS Day-Night Band data from the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership. Suomi NPP is the result of a partnership between NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Department of Defense. Caption by Michon Scott.
- Instrument:
- Suomi NPP - VIIRS
Wednesday, 31 October 2012
Typhoon Son-tinh
Son-tinh strengthened into a typhoon on October 26, 2012, and subsequently weakened back into a tropical storm on October 29, Unisys Weather reported. On October 28, Son-tinh made landfall in Vietnam. By October 29, the storm had caused deadly landslides and floods in the Philippines, and downed power lines, destroyed crops, and damaged thousands of homes in Vietnam.
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite captured this natural-color image of Son-tinh on October 28, 2012. When MODIS took this picture, the center of the storm was just off the coast of Vietnam, west of Hainan.
On October 29, Agence France-Presse reported that the storm was responsible for two deaths in Vietnam, and 27 deaths and nine missing persons in the Philippines.
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite captured this natural-color image of Son-tinh on October 28, 2012. When MODIS took this picture, the center of the storm was just off the coast of Vietnam, west of Hainan.
On October 29, Agence France-Presse reported that the storm was responsible for two deaths in Vietnam, and 27 deaths and nine missing persons in the Philippines.
References
- Agence France-Presse. (2012, October 29) Two dead as Typhoon Son-Tinh hits Vietnam. Accessed October 29, 2012.
- Unisys Weather. (2012, October 29) Son-tinh Tracking Information. Accessed October 29, 2012.
NASA image courtesy LANCE MODIS Rapid Response Team at NASA GSFC. Caption by Michon Scott.
- Instrument:
- Aqua - MODIS - NASA
Saturday, 27 October 2012
Tropical Storm Son-tinh
Tropical Storm Son-tinh blew over the South China Sea, midway between the Philippines and Vietnam, on October 26, 2012. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite took this picture the same day. Although Son-tinh did not boast a distinct eye, it still had the apostrophe shape typical of a strong storm.
Son-tinh formed as a tropical depression over the western Pacific Ocean on October 23 and strengthened into a storm the next day. On October 26, the U.S. Navy’s Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) reported that Son-tinh was located about 355 nautical miles (655 kilometers) east of Hue, Vietnam. The storm had maximum sustained winds of 60 knots (110 kilometers per hour) and gusts up to 75 knots (140 kilometers per hour). Son-tinh was expected to gain strength over the next 24 hours, and the JTWC projected storm track showed the storm moving toward the northwest, making landfall in Vietnam.
Son-tinh formed as a tropical depression over the western Pacific Ocean on October 23 and strengthened into a storm the next day. On October 26, the U.S. Navy’s Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) reported that Son-tinh was located about 355 nautical miles (655 kilometers) east of Hue, Vietnam. The storm had maximum sustained winds of 60 knots (110 kilometers per hour) and gusts up to 75 knots (140 kilometers per hour). Son-tinh was expected to gain strength over the next 24 hours, and the JTWC projected storm track showed the storm moving toward the northwest, making landfall in Vietnam.
References
- Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Accessed October 26, 2012.
- Unisys Weather. (2012, October 26) Son-tinh Tracking Information. Accessed October 26, 2012.
NASA image courtesy LANCE MODIS Rapid Response Team at NASA GSFC. Caption by Michon Scott.
- Instrument:
- Terra - MODIS - NASA
Tuesday, 16 October 2012
Typhoon Prapiroon
On October 9, 2012, two days after forming over the Pacific Ocean, Prapiroon strengthened into a typhoon. It retained at typhoon strength on October 15, when the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite captured this natural-color image. Prapiroon’s spiral arms stretched over Okinawa, Japan.
The same day that MODIS acquired this image, the U.S. Navy’s Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) reported that Prapiroon had maximum sustained winds of 70 knots (130 kilometers per hour) and gusts up to 85 knots (155 kilometers per hour). These wind speeds were down from those reported several days earlier, but Prapiroon remained a strong storm, centered about 305 nautical miles (565 kilometers) southeast of Kadena Air Base in Okinawa.
On October 15, the JTWC projected storm track for Prapiroon showed the storm moving roughly northward over the western Pacific Ocean then turning toward the northeast and following a path roughly parallel to the Japanese island of Honshu.
The same day that MODIS acquired this image, the U.S. Navy’s Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) reported that Prapiroon had maximum sustained winds of 70 knots (130 kilometers per hour) and gusts up to 85 knots (155 kilometers per hour). These wind speeds were down from those reported several days earlier, but Prapiroon remained a strong storm, centered about 305 nautical miles (565 kilometers) southeast of Kadena Air Base in Okinawa.
On October 15, the JTWC projected storm track for Prapiroon showed the storm moving roughly northward over the western Pacific Ocean then turning toward the northeast and following a path roughly parallel to the Japanese island of Honshu.
References
- Joint Typhoon Warning Center. (2012, October 15) Typhoon 22W (Prapiroon) Warning. [Online] URL: http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/warnings/wp2212web.txt. Accessed October 15, 2012.
- Unisys Weather. (2012, October 15) Prapiroon Tracking Information. Accessed October 15, 2012.
NASA image courtesy Jeff Schmaltz, LANCE MODIS Rapid Response Team at NASA GSFC. Caption by Michon Scott.
- Instrument:
- Aqua - MODIS -NASA
Friday, 12 October 2012
Typhoon Prapiroon
Prapiroon formed as a tropical depression over the western Pacific Ocean on October 7, 2012. It strengthened into a tropical storm the following day, and on October 9, it became a typhoon, Unisys Weather reported. On October 11, 2012, the U.S. Navy’s Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) reported that Prapiroon had maximum sustained winds of 95 knots (175 kilometers per hour) and gusts up to 115 knots (215 kilometers per hour). The storm was located about 415 nautical miles (770 kilometers) south of Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan.
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite captured this natural-color image of Prapiroon on October 11. The storm had a distinct eye and spiral arms spanning hundreds of kilometers. Prapiroon’s clouds extended over the northern Philippines, and skirted Taiwan.
The JTWC forecast that Prapiroon would strengthen somewhat over the next several hours, and maintain that strength through the next 48 hours. As of October 11, Prapiroon was moving toward the west-northwest, but the JTWC projected storm track showed the storm veering sharply toward the northeast around October 12.
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite captured this natural-color image of Prapiroon on October 11. The storm had a distinct eye and spiral arms spanning hundreds of kilometers. Prapiroon’s clouds extended over the northern Philippines, and skirted Taiwan.
The JTWC forecast that Prapiroon would strengthen somewhat over the next several hours, and maintain that strength through the next 48 hours. As of October 11, Prapiroon was moving toward the west-northwest, but the JTWC projected storm track showed the storm veering sharply toward the northeast around October 12.
References
- Joint Typhoon Warning Center. (2012, October 11) Typhoon 22W (Prapiroon) Warning. [Online] URL: http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/warnings/wp2212web.txt. Accessed October 11, 2012.
- Unisys Weather. (2012, October 11) Prapiroon Tracking Information. Accessed October 11, 2012.
NASA image courtesy Jeff Schmaltz, LANCE MODIS Rapid Response Team at NASA GSFC. Caption by Michon Scott.
- Instrument:
- Terra - MODIS - NASA
Monday, 1 October 2012
Mass evacuations as typhoon hits Japan
Powerful Typhoon Jelawat has hit the Japanese mainland, sparking the evacuation of thousands a day after it tore across the southern Okinawa island, where local media said it left one dead and some 140 injured.
Packing winds of up to 180kmph, the typhoon reached central Aichi prefecture at around 0700 local time (1000 GMT) and was moving up the main island of Honshu, the Japan Meteorological Agency said on Sunday.
The municipal government of the central city of Nagoya issued an evacuation advisory for 57,000 people living in 21,000 homes, due to the fear of flooding caused by rising river levels in the city, according to Jiji Press.
A further 11,000 were told to evacuate in the city of Ishinomaki in the country's northeast, Jiji Press reported.
A 29-year-old man was swept away by high waves when Jelawat hit Okinawa and was later confirmed dead, while at least 140 people were injured in eight prefectures, according to public broadcaster NHK.
The typhoon is forecast to churn northeastwards towards Tokyo over the next 24 hours and bring torrential rainfall and towering waves up to 10 metres high.
The meteorological agency predicted rainfall of up to 400mm some areas in the 24 hours to Monday evening, Jiji Press said.
More than 500 flights, mainly in western Japan, were cancelled on Sunday and some shinkansen bullet train services across the country had been suspended, Kyodo said.
- Aljazeera
Typhoon injures dozens, heads to Tokyo
High waves hit a breakwater in Kihocho, Mie prefecture, western Japan on Sept. 30. The typhoon is headed towards Tokyo. / Kyodo News via AP
TOKYO (AP) -- A powerful typhoon is headed to Tokyo on Sunday after injuring dozens of people, causing blackouts and paralyzing traffic in southern and western Japan.
Japan's Meteorological Agency said Typhoon Jelawat was expected to reach the Tokyo region Sunday night. It warned of torrential rain and strong wind gusts, urging residents to stay indoors.
The agency said the storm was packing winds of up to 126 kilometers (78 miles) an hour as it passed the Nagoya area in central Japan. Nagoya city issued an evacuation advisory to more than 50,000 residents because of fear of flooding from a swollen river. More than 10,000 people were also evacuated in Ishinomaki, a coastal city in northern Japan that was hit by last year's tsunami.
The typhoon left 145 people with minor injuries in southern and western Japan, about half of them on the southern island of Okinawa, public broadcaster NHK said. Tens of thousands of homes were without electricity.
Dozens of trains were halted in coastal areas around Tokyo and many stores inside the capital closed early Sunday as the storm approached. It was expected to hit northern Japan and then move off into the Pacific Ocean early Monday.
- AP
Sunday, 30 September 2012
Typhoon Jelawat on course to hit Japan mainland
NASA's Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite image taken on September 20, 2012 shows Jelawat formed as a tropical depression over the western Pacific Ocean in Philippines that became a tropical storm the next day. It strengthened to a typhoon on September 23, and then underwent explosive intensification, almost doubling in strength within 12 hours. On September 24, 2012, the U.S. Navy's Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) reported that Jelawat was located about 470 miles (760 kilometers) east of Manila in the Philippines.
Image by: HANDOUT / REUTERS
Strong typhoon Jelawat was moving toward the Japanese mainland on Saturday, the national weather agency said, after it battered southern Okinawa island with gusts strong enough to flip cars.
Violent winds up to 234 (146 miles) kilometers per hour have injured at least 51 people in Okinawa, including a man who severed a finger as a door of his house slammed shut due to strong winds, national network NHK said.
The Okinawa Prefecture Police said it had officially recognised at least six cases of typhoon-caused injuries as of Saturday afternoon, adding that the number of injuries could rise above 20.
Okinawa Electric Power said some 220,600 households in the island prefecture have suffered power outage.
Gusts have flipped over cars and blocked streets, adding to traffic chaos that included cancelled flights and ferries.
As of 0500 GMT, the typhoon was located 30 kilometers (19 miles) southwest of Yoronjima island, off Kagoshima prefecture, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.
It was moving northeast toward Tokyo at a speed of 30 kilometers per hour, with gusts and heavy rains expected in the Japanese capital on Sunday and Monday, the agency said.
- Times Live
Typhoon Jelawat
Typhoon Jelawat was bearing down on Okinawa on September 28, 2012, with mainland Japan lurking in its future. Forecasts called for the eye of the storm to pass over or close to Okinawa as a category 2 or 3 typhoon on September 29. Jelawat was predicted to approach Japan’s main island of Honshu as a category 1 typhoon or tropical storm late on September 30.
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite captured this image of Jelawat on September 28, 2012. The typhoon brushed within 200 miles of the coast of Taiwan, but did not inflict significant damage.
At 21:00 Universal Time on September 28 (6 a.m. Japan Standard Time on September 29), the U.S. Navy’s Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) reported maximum significant wave heights of 12 meters (39 feet), sustained winds of 194 kilometers (120 miles) per hour, and gusts up to 240 kilometers (149 miles) per hour. The typhoon was centered at 25.5° North latitude, 126.5° East longitude, about 200 kilometers (125 miles) southwest of Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan.
Jelawat formed on September 20 and reached “super typhoon” status—maximum sustained winds above 240 kilometers (150 miles) per hour—by September 24. University of Miami meteorologist Brian McNoldy wrote: “Jelawat became the second super typhoon to pass over the region in two weeks: Sanba was just there on September 13-14. While the western Pacific is no stranger to frequent typhoons, it is quite rare to have two consecutive super typhoons.”
The typhoon has weakened as it has moved northward, but it still poses a formidable threat to island and coastal communities.
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite captured this image of Jelawat on September 28, 2012. The typhoon brushed within 200 miles of the coast of Taiwan, but did not inflict significant damage.
At 21:00 Universal Time on September 28 (6 a.m. Japan Standard Time on September 29), the U.S. Navy’s Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) reported maximum significant wave heights of 12 meters (39 feet), sustained winds of 194 kilometers (120 miles) per hour, and gusts up to 240 kilometers (149 miles) per hour. The typhoon was centered at 25.5° North latitude, 126.5° East longitude, about 200 kilometers (125 miles) southwest of Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan.
Jelawat formed on September 20 and reached “super typhoon” status—maximum sustained winds above 240 kilometers (150 miles) per hour—by September 24. University of Miami meteorologist Brian McNoldy wrote: “Jelawat became the second super typhoon to pass over the region in two weeks: Sanba was just there on September 13-14. While the western Pacific is no stranger to frequent typhoons, it is quite rare to have two consecutive super typhoons.”
The typhoon has weakened as it has moved northward, but it still poses a formidable threat to island and coastal communities.
References
- Japan Meteorological Agency (2012, September 28) Tropical Cyclone Information. Accessed September 28, 2012.
- Joint Typhoon Warning Center (2012, September 28) Super Typhoon 18W (Jelawat) Warning. Accessed September 28, 2012.
- The Washington Post (2012, September 28) Capital Weather Gang: Typhoon Jelawat closing in on Okinawa, Japan. Accessed September 28, 2012.
- Weather Underground (2012, September 28) Dr. Jeff Masters WunderBlog: A Jelawat mystery. Accessed September 28, 2012.
NASA Earth Observatory image by Jesse Allen, using data from the Land Atmosphere Near real-time Capability for EOS (LANCE). Caption by Michael Carlowicz.
- Instrument:
- Terra - MODIS - NASA
Friday, 28 September 2012
Super Typhoon Jelawat eyes Okinawa, Japan
A week ago, Super Typhoon Sanba was listed as the most powerful tropical cyclone to develop across the globe for 2012 with maximum winds sustaining around 175 mile per hour (mph) at one point. Sanba pushed through parts of Okinawa, Japan and traveled into South Korea and dumped heavy rains across North Korea. Now, a week later, a new typhoon has formed and could impact Okinawa, Japan once again. Super Typhoon Jelawat is approximately 495 nm south-southwest of Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan and is pushing to the northwest at five knots. As of now, Jelawat is considered a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir Simpson scale with sustained winds around 155 mph and will likely push near Okinawa, Japan on Friday, September 28, 2012.
Super Typhoon Jelawat had a rapid burst of intensification on September 23, 2012 when it went from a tropical storm with 65 mph winds to a Category 4 typhoon with 140 mph winds in just 24 hours. Jelawat is pushing parallel of the Philippines and will provide rip currents and squally weather across the islands. Fortunately, the strong hurricane force winds will not impact the islands directly, and flooding will not be a huge concern. For now, the weather models are pushing Jelawat northwest with a more northerly track in time and will likely impact parts of Okinawa, Japan by Friday. The storm will likely maintain Category 4 intensity for the next 24 hours before it finally weakens late Thursday and Friday as a Category 2 storm. As of now, Jelawat could intensify back into a Category 5 storm with winds possibly exceeding 160 mph. As of now, Jelawat is showing very cold cloud tops, has a symmetrical appearance, and a defined 25 mile-wide eye that all indicates a very healthy tropical cyclone.
Bottom line: Super Typhoon Jelawat is a monster tropical cyclone producing winds around 155 mph. Jelawat could regain Category 5 status in the next six to twelve hours as it pushes across ideal conditions that favor some strengthening. Jelawat will continue to push to the northwest parallel of the Philippines and will then push to the north/northeast and could impact Okinawa, Japan sometime on Friday, September 28, 2012 as a weaker cyclone with an estimated intensity around the strength of a Category 2 storm.
- EarthSky
Super Typhoon Jelawat
On September 27, 2012, Jelawat was located northeast of the Philippines, continuing a northward trip over the western Pacific Ocean. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite took this picture the same day. Sporting a distinct eye, the storm spanned hundreds of kilometers, some of its clouds extending over the Philippines and Taiwan.
On September 27, the U.S. Navy’s Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) reported that Jelawat was located about 410 nautical miles (760 kilometers) south-southwest of Kadena Air Base, Okinawa. The storm had maximum sustained winds of 135 knots (250 kilometers per hour) and gusts up to 165 knots (305 kilometers per hour). The JTWC projected storm track showed Jelawat, which had been moving northwest, changing course and heading toward the northeast around September 27. The storm was expected to pass over Japan in the coming days.
On September 27, the U.S. Navy’s Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) reported that Jelawat was located about 410 nautical miles (760 kilometers) south-southwest of Kadena Air Base, Okinawa. The storm had maximum sustained winds of 135 knots (250 kilometers per hour) and gusts up to 165 knots (305 kilometers per hour). The JTWC projected storm track showed Jelawat, which had been moving northwest, changing course and heading toward the northeast around September 27. The storm was expected to pass over Japan in the coming days.
References
- Joint Typhoon Warning Center. (2012, September 27) Super Typhoon 18W (Jelawat) Warning. [Online] URL: http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/warnings/wp1812web.txt. Accessed September 27, 2012.
NASA image courtesy LANCE MODIS Rapid Response Team at NASA GSFC. Caption by Michon Scott.
- Instrument:
- Aqua - MODIS - NASA
Thursday, 27 September 2012
Typhoon Jelawat East of the Philippines
On September 25, 2012, Jelawat continued its northwestward trip over the western Pacific Ocean. The U.S. Navy’s Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) reported that Jelawat was located about 385 nautical miles (715 kilometers) east-northeast of Manila in the Philippines. The storm had maximum sustained winds of 140 knots (260 kilometers per hour) and gusts up to 170 knots (315 kilometers per hour).
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite captured this natural-color image on September 25. Compared to the previous day, the storm had moved toward the north-northwest. Storm clouds stretched over part of the Philippines.
According to the Taipei Times, the Taiwan weather bureau had warned that Jelawat would pass near Taiwan around September 27–28. The JTWC projected storm track showed the storm moving toward the north-northwest, to the same latitude as Taiwan, then veering to the northeast.
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite captured this natural-color image on September 25. Compared to the previous day, the storm had moved toward the north-northwest. Storm clouds stretched over part of the Philippines.
According to the Taipei Times, the Taiwan weather bureau had warned that Jelawat would pass near Taiwan around September 27–28. The JTWC projected storm track showed the storm moving toward the north-northwest, to the same latitude as Taiwan, then veering to the northeast.
References
- Joint Typhoon Warning Center. (2012, September 25) Super Typhoon 18W (Jelawat) Warning. [Online] URL: http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/warnings/wp1812web.txt. Accessed September 25, 2012.
- Shan, S. (2012, September 26, Taiwan time) Vessels brace for Typhoon Jelawat. Taipei Times. Accessed September 25, 2012.
NASA image courtesy Jeff Schmaltz, LANCE MODIS Rapid Response Team at NASA GSFC. Caption by Michon Scott.
- Instrument:
- Terra - MODIS
Friday, 14 September 2012
Typhoon Sanba
Sanba formed as a tropical depression over the western Pacific Ocean on September 10, 2012, and strengthened to a typhoon by September 12. On September 13, 2012, the U.S. Navy’s Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) reported that Sanba had maximum sustained winds of 135 knots (250 kilometers per hour) and gusts up to 165 knots (305 kilometers per hour). Located roughly 600 nautical miles (1,100 kilometers) south of Kadena Air Base in Japan, the storm was headed for the Korean Peninsula.
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite captured this natural-color image of Typhoon Sanba on September 13, 2012. Clouds from the typhoon extended over part of the Philippines (image lower left).
The JTWC forecast that Sanba would strengthen slightly over the next 12 hours, with sustained winds reaching up to 140 knots (260 kilometers per hour).
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite captured this natural-color image of Typhoon Sanba on September 13, 2012. Clouds from the typhoon extended over part of the Philippines (image lower left).
The JTWC forecast that Sanba would strengthen slightly over the next 12 hours, with sustained winds reaching up to 140 knots (260 kilometers per hour).
References
- Joint Typhoon Warning Center. (2012, September 13) Super Typhoon 17W (Sanba) Warning. [Online] URL: http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/warnings/wp1712web.txt. Accessed September 13, 2012.
- Unisys Weather. (2012, September 13) Sanba Tracking Information. Accessed September 13, 2012.
NASA image courtesy Jeff Schmaltz, LANCE MODIS Rapid Response Team at NASA GSFC. Caption by Michon Scott.
- Instrument:
- Aqua - MODIS - NASA
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