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Typhoon Bopha

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This article is about the 2012 typhoon. For other storms of the same name, see Typhoon Bopha.
Typhoon Bopha
Current storm status
Category 4 typhoon (1-min mean)
Satellite image
Forecast map
As of:00:00 UTC December 1
Location:4.7°N 142.1°E
About 465 nmi (861 km; 535 mi) ESE of Palau
Sustained winds:90 (10-min mean)
115 (1-min mean)
gusting to 130
Pressure:945
Movement:WNW at 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph)
See more detailed information.

Typhoon Bopha (international designation: 1224, JTWC designation: 26W) is currently a very powerful late-season tropical cyclone which formed unusually close to the equator. Bopha is estimated to hit Palau which is rarely affected by typhoons.

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

On November 23, a large area of convection persisted 650 km (400 mi) south of Pohnpei, near the equator or at latitude of 0.6ºN. The system had a poorly-defined, elongated atmospheric circulation, and was located in an area of moderate wind shear and restricted outflow, due to a subtropical ridge to the north. As a result, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) assessed a low chance for tropical cyclogenesis.[1] The center slowly consolidated, with a well-defined mid-level circulation.[2] Late on November 25, the JTWC issued a tropical cyclone formation alert after it organized further, noting that the system had developed an anticyclone which was providing outflow.[3] Around the same time, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) classified the system as a tropical depression, about 410 km (255 mi) south-southwest of Pohnpei.[4] At 2100 UTC on November 25, the JTWC also upgraded the system to Tropical Depression 26W.[5]

On November 27, a deep centralized convective cover developed over the LLCC and the JTWC too upgraded Bopha into a tropical storm. On November 28, a band of convection, associated with powerful thunderstorms formed south of Bopha, near the equator, which started to feed additional moisture into Bopha, which lead to it's gradual increase in size. The band of convection became so large, and organize, that the band began to resemble a 'tail' as NASA stated. On November 30, the JMA futher upgraded the system to a severe tropical storm, as it started to become better organize. [6] As the system continued to intensify, organize bands of thunderstorms, began to develop rapidly around the system, mostly on the western half of the storm, which later merged with Bopha, which caused it to increase in size. Several hot towers also began to rise up near the low level circulation center, with on of the hot towers reaching 17 km (11 mi) into the atmosphere.[7] A few hours after the JMA upgraded the system into a severe tropical storm, the JTWC further upgraded the system to a Category 1 typhoon, at around 0600 (UTC).[8] It began to explosively deepen over the day, becoming a category 4 storm 18 hours later still less than five degrees from the equator.[9]

Preparations and impact

Federated States of Micronesia and Palau

When Bopha was forming, the National Weather Service (NWS) in Guam issued a tropical storm watch for the FSM islands of Nukuoro and Lukunor.[10] The watch was upgraded to a tropical storm warning on November 26, and the watch was expanded to include Losap and Chuuk Lagoon.[11] As Bopha moved westward, the office also issued a tropical storm watch for Poluwat,[12] and Satawal,[13] both of which were upgraded to warnings, and a typhoon watch was issued for Woleai.[14] On November 30, authorities and disaster managers on Palau island are on high alert with predictions that Typhoon Bopha will pass directly over Palau as a Category 3 tropical cyclone by December 02. Authorities on Palau has requested assistance from the US Construction and Civic Action Detail (CCAD) Team, to prepare for the incoming storm. The National Emergency Management Office in Palau issued a Public Announcement on November 29 requesting a public stock up, with emergency supplies such as food and water for three days, portable radios with spare batteries, flashlights, first aid kits. The citizens of Palau was also advised to start cleaning their houses, secure loose objects that may be lifted up by the strong winds, which can cause massive damage, board up windows, trim tree branches that could fall and damage homes, fill up vehicles with gas, secure boats and assist their communities in preparing. [15]

Philippines

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council advised the citizens of Iligan and Cagayan de Oro to prepare for the impact of the storm, as they do not want a repeat of Severe Tropical Storm Washi, which hit when people were asleep and caused a large number deaths. [16]

See also

References

  1. ^ Significant Tropical Weather Advisory for the Western and South Pacific Oceans (Report). Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 2012-11-23. Retrieved 2012-11-29.
  2. ^ Significant Tropical Weather Advisory for the Western and South Pacific Oceans (Report). Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 2012-11-24. Retrieved 2012-11-29.
  3. ^ Significant Tropical Weather Advisory for the Western and South Pacific Oceans (Report). Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 2012-11-25. Retrieved 2012-11-29.
  4. ^ Warning and Summary (Report). Japan Meteorological Agency. 2012-11-25. Retrieved 2012-11-29.
  5. ^ Tropical Depression 26W (Twenty-Six) Warning NR 001 (Report). Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 2012-11-25. Retrieved 2012-11-29.
  6. ^ http://www.jma.go.jp/en/typh/
  7. ^ http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/hurricanes/archives/2012/h2012_Bopha.html
  8. ^ http://www.wunderground.com/wundermap/?lat=3.5&lon=146.2&zoom=6&type=hyb&rad=0&wxsn=0&svr=0&cams=0&sat=0&riv=0&mm=0&hur=1&hur.wr=0&hur.cod=1&hur.fx=1&hur.obs=1&fire=0&ft=0&sl=0
  9. ^ http://agora.ex.nii.ac.jp/digital-typhoon/summary/wnp/s/201224.html.en
  10. ^ Middlebrooke (2012-11-26). Tropical Depression 26W Advisory Number 1 (Report). Guam National Weather Service. Retrieved 2012-11-29.
  11. ^ Middlebrooke (2012-11-26). Tropical Depression 26W Advisory Number 2 (Report). Guam National Weather Service. Retrieved 2012-11-29.
  12. ^ Middlebrooke (2012-11-26). Tropical Storm Bopha (26W) Advisory Number 6 (Report). Guam National Weather Service. Retrieved 2012-11-29.
  13. ^ Williams (2012-11-27). Tropical Storm Bopha (26W) Advisory Number 9 (Report). Guam National Weather Service. Retrieved 2012-11-29.
  14. ^ Guard; Stanko (2012-11-28). Tropical Storm Bopha (26W) Advisory Number 11 (Report). Guam National Weather Service. Retrieved 2012-11-29.
  15. ^ http://reliefweb.int/report/palau/tropical-storm-bopha-26w-update-4
  16. ^ http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/284443/news/nation/pagasa-approaching-storm-may-enter-par-this-weekend
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