Cyclone Giri

Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Giri

Extremely severe cyclonic storm (IMD scale)
Category 4 tropical cyclone (SSHWS)
Cyclone Giri on October 22, 2010 near peak strength.
Formed	October 20, 2010
Dissipated	October 23, 2010
Highest winds	3-minute sustained: 165 km/h (105 mph) 1-minute sustained: 250 km/h (155 mph)
Lowest pressure	950 hPa (mbar); 28.05 inHg
Fatalities	3 dead, 100+ missing
Areas affected	Myanmar and Bangladesh
Part of the 2010 North Indian Ocean cyclone season

Cyclone Giri (IMD designation: BOB 04, JTWC designation: 04B, also known as Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Giri) is the fourth named cyclone of the 2010 North Indian Ocean cyclone season. Giri developed from a low pressure area in the Bay of Bengal that organized into a tropical cyclone on October 19. Giri was stronger than Cyclone Nargis that battered the coast of Myanmar and killed thousands in 2008.

Throughout central Myanmar, at least three people are known to have been killed by the storm and more than 100 others are missing. Thousands of structures near where the storm made landfall were destroyed, leaving tens of thousands of people homeless.

Meteorological History

Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale

Map key

Saffir–Simpson scale

  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown

Storm type

Tropical cyclone

Subtropical cyclone

Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

Cyclone Giri was first identified by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on October 20, 2010 as an area of low pressure over the Bay of Bengal. Later that day, the system was classified as a depression and given the identifier BOB 04; at this time, the system was situated roughly 250 km (155 mi) southwest of Sittwe, Myanmar. Continued development took place as convection consolidated around the system and banding features formed along the western side of the low. Situated in an area of weak wind shear, further development was anticipated over the following days. Early on October 21, the IMD upgraded the system to a deep depression and expected it to further intensify into a cyclonic storm within 24 hours. Shortly thereafter, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) issue their first advisory on the depression, classifying it as Tropical Cyclone 04B. The system rapidly developed throughout the day on October 21, developing an eye embedded within deep convection. In response to a near-equatorial ridge to the south, the system slowly tracked towards the northeast, placing Myanmar within its path. Around 0600 UTC, the IMD upgraded the system to a cyclonic storm, assigning it with the name "Giri".

Tracking over an area of high sea surface temperatures, rapid intensification ensued during the latter half of October 21. Following the development of very intense convection, with estimated cloud tops between −70 and −80 °C (−94 and −112 °F), Giri strengthened into a severe cyclonic storm, having sustained winds of at least 95 km/h (60 mph 3-minute sustained). Around 1800 UTC, the JTWC estimated that the system intensified into a Category 1 equivalent cyclone on the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale. Early on October 22, Giri further strengthened into a very severe cyclonic storm as it slowly moved towards the central coast of Myanmar. Throughout the day, the storm underwent explosive deepening, attaining winds of 240 km/h (145 mph 1-minute sustained) by 0900 UTC. Satellite imagery depicted a well-defined 46 km (29 mi) wide eye surrounded by deep convection. Accompanied by strong poleward outflow, additional strengthening took place despite Giri's proximity to land.

Within hours of making landfall on October 22, Giri attained its peak intensity with winds of 165 km/h (105 mph 3-minute sustained) and a barometric pressure of 950 mbar (hPa; 28.05 inHg). However, the JTWC estimated that Giri was a substantially stronger storm, nearly attaining Category 5 status; peak winds were believed to have reached 250 km/h (155 mph 1-minute sustained) and the pressure bottoming out at 922 mbar (hPa; 27.23 inHg). Around 1400 UTC, Cyclone Giri made landfall near Hunter's Bay, roughly 50 km (31 mi) northwest of Kyaukpyu at peak intensity. Upon doing so, Giri became the most intense storm to ever strike Myanmar, surpassing Cyclone Nargis which struck the Irrawaddy Delta region as a low-end Category 4 equivalent in May 2008. Once overland, the cyclone rapidly decayed as convection dissipated. Despite having estimated winds of 150 km/h (90 mph 1-minute sustained), the JTWC issued their final advisory on Giri just six hours after landfall. By early October 23, only scattered bursts of convection remained around the center of Giri as it degenerated into a land depression. The final advisory from the IMD was issued later that day as the system weakened further.

Preparations and impact

Myanmar

Special warnings have been issued for Myanmar coast when the system intensified into a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm. Unfortunately there hadn't been much preparation for the storm as it wasn't expected to become this strong. The worst fear by the residents is the aftermath of the storm. The feared that this cyclone could do what Cyclone Nargis did in 2008. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) advised people to move to strong buildings and high ground so as to survive the strong winds. All eyes were on Kyaukphyu, a major town in Myanmar. The IMD has been forecasting the storm to make landfall in that town. Tropical Storm force winds have already started blowing through the city with a lowest recorded pressure of 990 Millibars as it was reported.

According to local media, the Cyclone Giri brought a storm surge up to 3.7 m (12 ft) along with waves up to 8 m (26 ft) and winds in excess of 260 km/h (160 mph). In Kyaukphyu, much of the city was left more than 1.2 m (3.9 ft) under water by the storm. Residents stated that most of Kyaukphyu destroyed by Giri, nearly every tree and lamppost was felled and all structures were damaged or destroyed. In the Ashey Paing ward, an entire village was flattened by the storm as roughly 1,000 homes were destroyed. Near the Gangawtaw Pagoda in the city, nearly 100 homes were completely destroyed. The local Red Cross office in the city was also destroyed after a large tree fell on it due to high winds. At least three people are known to have been killed by the storm in a nearby village; however, this is likely to rise as many more are missing. Tens of thousands of residents are believed to have been left homeless by the cyclone.

Offshore, more than 100 fishermen were reported missing after 21 ships were caught in rough seas produced by the cyclone. Immediately following the storm, urgent requests for food and clean water were made by residents in the hardest hit areas. By the afternoon of October 23, the Red Cross began deploying relief supplies to the affected region; 300 tents and 150 bags of rice were planned to be distributed to Kyaukphyu where at least 5,000 people were left homeless. Red Cross officials also reported that an estimated 60,000 people were in need of assistance throughout Myanmar. Later that day, a relief charity was opened in Rangoon to aid victims of the storm; the charity has already received donations of 10 million kyat ($10,000 USD).

Bangladesh

Even though the storm wasn't expected to hit Bangladesh, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (locally called Met Office) issued storm signal five at ports of Cox's Bazar and Chittagong. Ships and vessels were also asked to return to shore quickly. Later on October 23, the Met Office asked maritime ports to lower danger signal number five and hoist local cautionary signal number three.