STH Stormwatch (Updates) : The well marked low pressure area concentrates into a depression

Yesterday's well marked low has concentrated into a depression situated approx 240km SSE of Chennai. The system is likely to move NNW during next 12 hours and northwards thereafter along north Tamil Nadu and south Coastal Andhra Pradesh coast and likely to further intensify into a Deep Depression during next 48hrs - IMD
Update1 (All India Weather Inference of IMD- Evening).
The system is likely to move NNW towards north Tamil Nadu­/south Andhra Pradesh coast and further intensify into a deep depression during next 24 hours.
The system is likely to be close to Chennai during morning hours of 18May. It will move northwards and then recurve NNE and may intensify into a cyclonic storm during subsequent 24 hours.
(Italics are mine)

Praful Rao
Kalimpong,
Dist Darjeeling

Update (28Apr2015) : List of Aftershocks and other Quakes in our region

Red dot shows induced earthquake at Mirik (Darjeeling dist, W Bengal)

Source of top data sheet : IMetD

Praful Rao,
Kalimpong,
Dist Darjeeling

Nepal 7.9R EarthQuake update : List of Aftershocks

Source
Death toll : India : approx 40. Nepal crossed 1000 at 1930h IST.
Comunication is becoming difficult with our relatives and friends in Kathmandu because of power outages and their inability to charge mobile devices.

Praful Rao,
Kalimpong,
Dist Darjeeling

STH Stormwatch: Cyclone Nilofar (update- 27Oct2014)

Websites for storm watch
India Meteorological Department
US Navy's Joint Typhoon Warning Center
Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (NASA)
Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (Univ of Wisconsin)
EUMETSAT
US Gov's Aviation Weather Center

Praful Rao,
Kalimponng,
Dist Darjeeling

STH stormwatch (11Nov2013) : Update on Low Pressure in Bay of Bengal

Refer our earlier post on 09Nov2013.
Today's IMetD (evening) update reports a WELL MARKED LOW having formed which is likely to intensify into a depression in the next 24hrs.
You can keep abreast of the updates here


Praful Rao,
Kalimpong,
Dist Darjeeling

STH stormwatch (update) : Cyclone Phailin, after the landfall (13Oct2013.1)

'Very Severe Cyclone' Phailin made landfall almost exactly as predicted around 2100h on 12Oct2013, near Gopalpur. It has moved inland and should be now downgraded to a 'Cyclone'.
As per reports coming in, the damage and certainly the fatalities seems to be much less than expected perhaps because
a. Enough lead time was available to prepare and mobilize forces.
b. Large scale evacuation carried out.
c. Overall preparedness, in terms of storm shelters etc was better.
d. Most importantly and mercifully, the storm itself was of lesser intensity than forecast.
(see Automatic Weather Station Report  of Bhubaneswar agro for rainfall and wind speed records)
While hoping the worst is over, the storm is still potent and very much around and will have to be watched closely and also disaster management in the affected areas will now have to move onto the next phase viz assessment of needs and damage, relief , rehab and reconstruction.
Updates will continue on STH stormwatch.

Praful Rao,
Kalimpong,
Dist Darjeeling

STH stormwatch (update) : Are we under rating Phailin?

Tropical Storm Risk venture a UK based organization has  categorized Phailin as a 'Super Cyclone' (see above); this seems to be more or less in keeping with the report of US Navy's JTWC (excerpt below), which pegs the wind speeds higher than IMetD forecasts :-

"WTIO31 PGTW 120900
MSGID/GENADMIN/JOINT TYPHOON WRNCEN PEARL HARBOR HI//
SUBJ/TROPICAL CYCLONE 02B (PHAILIN) WARNING NR 014//
RMKS/
1. TROPICAL CYCLONE 02B (PHAILIN) WARNING NR 014    
   01 ACTIVE TROPICAL CYCLONE IN NORTHIO
   MAX SUSTAINED WINDS BASED ON ONE-MINUTE AVERAGE
   WIND RADII VALID OVER OPEN WATER ONLY
    ---
   WARNING POSITION:
   120600Z --- NEAR 18.0N 85.8E
     MOVEMENT PAST SIX HOURS - 310 DEGREES AT 09 KTS
     POSITION ACCURATE TO WITHIN 020 NM
     POSITION BASED ON CENTER LOCATED BY SATELLITE
   PRESENT WIND DISTRIBUTION:
   MAX SUSTAINED WINDS - 130 KT, GUSTS 160 KT" 

   (130 KT = 240 kmph; 160 KT = 296 kmph) 

Meanwhile at approx 1600h IST, it has started raining in Kolkata which lies on the
periphery of the cyclone, at places moderately and at other places there is a steady 
drizzle. 
The IR image of Phailin at 1600h (IST) is placed below.

Praful Rao,
Kalimpong,
Dist Darjeeling.

STH stormwatch (update): Red message from IMetD on Phailin (12Oct2013.1)

For update 3 on Phailin from Force 13 click on the link on video


Praful Rao
Kalimpong,
Dist Darjeeling

STH stormwatch (update) : Very Severe Cyclone Phailin (11Oct2013.3)

Praful Rao
Kalimpong,
District Darjeeling

Cyclone MAHASEN update : 16May2013

Source


Praful Rao,
Kalimpong

Cyclone MAHASEN update : 15May2013

Source


Praful Rao,
Kalimpong