STH Activities (29Oct2013) : Disaster Risk Reduction Workshop in Kalimpong in conjunction with State Administration

STH held a DRR (Disaster Risk Reduction) seminar in Kalimpong on 29Oct2013.
The audience comprised of almost 500 students from various schools in the Kalimpong sub-division and we conducted a 90min interactive Q and A session with video breaks covering the cause and effect of various hydrological disaster events (cyclones, cloudbursts,landslides etc) that affect the SHWB (Sub Himalayan West Bengal) region and Sikkim; we also talked about dams and earthquakes. 

We would like to thank the State Administration for organizing the event. 

Rohan Rao,
Kalimpong,
Dist-Darjeeling,
Email-rohan.rao1313@gmail.com

STH stormwatch : More deadly than Cyclone Phailin - persistent LOPAR over Odisha and Andhra Pradesh

After STH first reported this low pressure area (LOPAR) over Odisha and Andhra Pradesh on 21Oct2013, it has hovered steadfastly over the region dumping record amounts of rain and causing death and devastation far exceeding that caused by Cyclone Phailin which after making landfall quickly moved inland.
One week after our report, the system shows no sign of movement as can be seen in the IR image of 27Oct2013 above - it has also  resulted in unseasonal rains and flooding in Kolkata.

Praful Rao,
Kalimpong,
Dist Darjeeling.

2013 Fedex Award for Innovations In Disaster Preparedness: Results

  

 STH would like to congratulate Habitat For Humanity on the winning the FedEx award for Innovations In Disaster Management in 2013. The award was sponsored by FedEx and InterAction and aimed at recognizing innovative interventions that reduce communities vulnerability to hazards or natural disasters and increases their capacity to prevent or cope with such adverse events.
Applications from all over the world were entertained, India was unique in the fact that it had the most number of applicants (10 submissions / shown in Slide 1). Although STH did not win , we're extremely proud that we were nominated as one of the six finalists and hope to participate in the award in 2014 too. 

For a look at all the applicants and their innovations click here

Rohan Rao,
Kalimpong,
Dist-Darjeeling,
Email-rohan.rao1313@gmail.com

SAARC seminar on "High Impact Weather Events and their prediction over the SAARC Region" (02-04Dec2013), in New Delhi

The seminar could not be better timed or be more relevant after having gone through Uttarakhand and Cyclone Phailin in this region and huge number of extreme events globally.
STH will attend the event and you can get more details on the seminar here

Praful Rao,
Kalimpong,
Dist Darjeeling

STH Storm watch : 21Oct2013 - Low pressure reported over central parts of south Bay of Bengal

We are now at the end of the cyclone season in the Bay of Bengal with winter right around the corner.2013 saw cyclone 'Mahasen' greeting the monsoon season and lets hope 'Phailin' was farewell to the rain bearing winds which are now on their way out of the sub-continent. Having said this though IMetD reported another low pressure over central parts of South Bay of Bengal on 20Oct2013, excerpts from Bulletin are below :

" The low pressure area over central parts of south Bay of Bengal and neighbourhood
persists."
" Prediction of meteorological condition :
The low pressure area over central parts of south Bay of Bengal would move northwestwards and would intensify into a well marked low pressure area during next 24 hours."

Mid-Day Update (21Oct2013) 
"The well marked low pressure area over southwest Bay of Bengal and neighbourhood may concentrate into a depression during next 24hrs."

Update on 23Oct2013

A well marked low pressure has formed, likely movement - west northwestwards

(Source : IMetD)
Rohan Rao,
Kalimpong,
Dist-Darjeeling,
Email: rohan.rao1313@gmail.com

Anatomy of a Storm : Very Severe Cyclone 'Phailin' (08-15Oct2013)

Very Severe Cyclone 'Phailin' - 08Oct-15Oct2013

More PowerPoint presentations from praful rao


SaveTheHills as a part of its 'STH stormwatch' program maintains  a close vigil on adverse weather activities in the Bay of Bengal using the internet since the bay is a notorious hatchery of cyclones.
Over the years we have (when necessary) sent EW messages to alert/warn communities as well as organizations on the position/ movement of major weather systems.
Very Severe Cyclone 'Phailin' has been extensively covered in earlier posts in this blog - this slide show is a collection of IR images made from 08Oct2013 ,(when we first reported on it) until 15Oct2013 when its effect in the Darjeeling-Sikkim Himalaya waned.
This has been made in order to generate awareness on extreme events, the frequency and intensity of which are increasing and which most probably is the result of climate change and human activity.
We hope this and an earlier slideshow will help towards this end.

Rohan Rao,
Kalimpong,
Dist-Darjeeling,
Email: rohan.rao1313@gmail.com 

What Cyclone Phailin did : Rainfall data goes from 'Scanty' to 'Excess' in Darjeeling in one day

The average rainfall for the month of October of sub Himalayan West Bengal (SHWB) and Sikkim as per IMetD is 154.2mm (source) and Oct 2013 began with an unusually dry period where the first 10days of the month saw 'scanty' rainfall resulting in a 67% deficiency (see top map).
The rainfall dumped by Very Severe Cyclone Phailin changed all this.
Darjeeling (185mm) and Kalimpong (141mm) received the entire months rainfall on 14/15Oct2013 when it rained non-stop for 24hrs and as per the lower map we now have an excess of 145% precipitation.
It has been bone dry since 15Oct2013.
Meanwhile, the gradual withdrawal of the South Westerly monsoon continues over the Indian sub-continent and it should be exiting our region today (19Oct2013), see below :-

Praful Rao,
Kalimpong,
District Darjeeling

STH stormwatch -15Oct2013 : Feeling Phailin in the Himalayas -2

Very Severe Cyclone Phailin made landfall close to the Andhra/Odisha border on 12Oct2013 at approx 2100h (extensively covered in earlier STH stormwatch series of Oct2013).
Having moved inland it has been downgraded to a low pressure which is located in southwest Bihar (IMetD). Under the influence of this system, moisture laden clouds over the Darjeeling - Sikkim Himalayas have brought non-stop rainfall in the region for the last 24h and the rainfall continues as I write.
Rainfall figures from 0700h/ 14Oct to 0700h/ 15Oct2013 are shown below :-
a. Darjeeling  - 185 mm (source : STH ARG in Darjeeling).
b. Kalimpong - 141mm (source : IMD AWS - see above)
c. Siliguri       -   99mm (source : IMD AWS)
d. Gangtok     -   66mm (source : IMD AWS)
e. Gyalsing (W Sikkim) - 72mm (IMD AWS)
So far there are no reports of landslides (undoubtedly due to the less intensity of the rain) but this unseasonal rainfall will certainly cause :
a. Crop damage in this region
b. Flooding in the plains of Bengal.

Praful Rao,
Kalimpong,
Dist Darjeeling

STH stormwatch: Inconsistencies of Meteorological Science.

Though the track predictions and forecast of IMetD during Very Severe Cyclone Phailin seemed almost flawless, we are now seeing variations in what was predicted and what actually happened.
a. SLIDE 1 above states that the Cyclonic storm much after landfall on 12Oct2013 would move north WESTWARDS.
b. SLIDE 2 concedes the storm (now a deep depression) has infact moved north EASTWARDS and would continue to move in that direction.
In keeping with the heavy rainfall warning  over Darjeeling and Sikkim (in slide2) it has been raining continuously over this area since this morning albeit not too heavily (see IR image above)

Praful Rao,
Kalimpong,
Dist Darjeeling

STH stormwatch: Feeling Phailin in the Himalayas

 

STH has been following the development and movement of Cyclone Phailin since its inception near the  Andaman Islands on 08Oct2013. Having observed it make landfall in Odisha last evening and move inland, I have been tracking the cloud movement the entire day today and feel rather surprised that the cloud mass from the remnants of Phailin has moved over us in the Sub-Himalayan West Bengal (SHWB) and Sikkim.

In keeping with this movement Regional Meteorological Centre Kolkata has issued a severe weather warning for heavy rainfall in our region.

Praful Rao

Kalimpong,

Dist Darjeeling