An area of disturbed weather in the Arabian Sea was monitored in early May for possible development. Over the next two weeks, strong convection would develop before sunrise but dissipate by sunset. By May 16, the convection had become constant and a TCFA was issued at 0100Z. The low became a tropical storm by 0900Z. Tropical Storm 02A intensified as it moved to the northwest, and reached cyclone status on May 17 at 0600Z. At that time, a mid-latitude trough weakened the subtropical ridge, allowing 02A to curve into Pakistan. 02A continued to intensify and by May 19, it had reached its peak of 125 mph (200 km/h), just below Category four status on the SSHS. 02A made landfall on May 20 near Karachi, Pakistan at peak intensity. The storm began to weaken as it continued inland over the Indus River Valley on May 21, before it completely dissipated on the next day.
Impact and aftermath
India
In India, officials evacuated more than 50,000 from coastal towns and cities as a precaution.[1] However, the powerful cyclone caused relatively little damage during its passage. Moderate rainfall was recorded across Gujarat and only one person was killed. Some areas were cut off from the surrounding region after strong winds, estimated to have been between 120 and 150 km/h (75 and 93 mph) downed power lines.[2]
Pakistan
Upon striking Pakistan, officials feared the worst, with memories of the deadly 1998 Gujarat cyclone fresh in their minds. Reports released hours after the storm moved inland stated that at least 700 people were feared to be dead and at least 3,500 were thought to be missing. Hundreds of villages along the coastline were inundated by the cyclone's large storm surge and flooding rains. High winds downed power lines throughout the region, severing communication with many affected cities. In Karachi 70 km winds lashed the city with heavy downpour. At least 70% of the rice crop was estimated to have been lost due to the cyclone.[3] Near the storm's center, wind gusts were estimated to have reached 275 km/h (171 mph).[4]
By May 23, officials in Pakistan recovered 200 bodies; 50 were found across islands of the mainland and 150 were in the Badin District.[5] During a rescue attempt, 11 Pakistani soldiers were washed away in a swift current. None of the soldiers are believed to have survived the incident. Throughout the country, damage was estimated to have exceeded $6 million.[6] By May 24, 400 bodies had been recovered but at least 6,000 more were known to be missing and believed dead. Many of these people are believed to have been swept out to sea.[7]
Following the storm's destructive landfall, hundreds of soldiers from the Pakistan army were deployed to the region. They assisted in search and rescue operations as well as relocating survivors to shelters. According to the Associated Press, the Government of Pakistan made no attempts to evacuate residents before the cyclone made landfall, likely resulting in the large number of fatalities. At least $1 million in relief funds was to be supplied by the government.[6]
Records
Close-up view of the storm
Upon reaching its peak intensity, the storm became the most intense cyclone ever recorded in the Arabian Sea since records began. It surpassed the record set just a year earlier by Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm ARB 02 which attained winds of 165 km/h (105 mph 3-minute sustained) and a minimum pressure of 958 mbar (hPa; 28.29 inHg). Since then, the storm has been surpassed as the strongest in the region. In June 2007, Cyclone Gonu became the first Category 5-equivalent storm ever recorded in the area. Additionally, the JTWC estimated that another storm, Cyclone Phet in 2010, attained higher sustained winds than ARB 01 in 1999; however, the IMD does not support this as it is based on one minute mean. IMD calculate windspeed based on three-minute mean. This Cyclone is the only Major Cyclone and Extremely Severe Cyclone to make Landfall in Pakistan.[8]
1999, pakistan, cyclone, joint, typhoon, warning, center, designation, india, meteorological, department, designation, deadly, tropical, cyclone, that, brought, further, devastation, region, struck, powerful, storm, nearly, year, earlier, extremely, severe, cy. The 1999 Pakistan cyclone Joint Typhoon Warning Center designation 02A India Meteorological Department designation ARB 01 was a deadly tropical cyclone that brought further devastation to a region struck by a powerful storm nearly a year earlier Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm ARB 01Extremely severe cyclonic storm IMD scale Category 3 tropical cyclone SSHWS Satellite image of the cyclone at peak intensity making landfall in Pakistan on May 20 FormedMay 16 1999DissipatedMay 22 1999Highest winds3 minute sustained 195 km h 120 mph 1 minute sustained 205 km h 125 mph Lowest pressure946 hPa mbar 27 94 inHgFatalities6 400 totalDamage 6 million 1999 USD Areas affectedIndia and PakistanPart of the 1999 North Indian Ocean cyclone season Contents 1 Meteorological history 2 Impact and aftermath 2 1 India 2 2 Pakistan 3 Records 4 See also 5 ReferencesMeteorological history Edit Map plotting the storm s track and intensity according to the Saffir Simpson scaleMap keySaffir 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 Monsoon depression An area of disturbed weather in the Arabian Sea was monitored in early May for possible development Over the next two weeks strong convection would develop before sunrise but dissipate by sunset By May 16 the convection had become constant and a TCFA was issued at 0100Z The low became a tropical storm by 0900Z Tropical Storm 02A intensified as it moved to the northwest and reached cyclone status on May 17 at 0600Z At that time a mid latitude trough weakened the subtropical ridge allowing 02A to curve into Pakistan 02A continued to intensify and by May 19 it had reached its peak of 125 mph 200 km h just below Category four status on the SSHS 02A made landfall on May 20 near Karachi Pakistan at peak intensity The storm began to weaken as it continued inland over the Indus River Valley on May 21 before it completely dissipated on the next day Impact and aftermath EditIndia Edit In India officials evacuated more than 50 000 from coastal towns and cities as a precaution 1 However the powerful cyclone caused relatively little damage during its passage Moderate rainfall was recorded across Gujarat and only one person was killed Some areas were cut off from the surrounding region after strong winds estimated to have been between 120 and 150 km h 75 and 93 mph downed power lines 2 Pakistan Edit Upon striking Pakistan officials feared the worst with memories of the deadly 1998 Gujarat cyclone fresh in their minds Reports released hours after the storm moved inland stated that at least 700 people were feared to be dead and at least 3 500 were thought to be missing Hundreds of villages along the coastline were inundated by the cyclone s large storm surge and flooding rains High winds downed power lines throughout the region severing communication with many affected cities In Karachi 70 km winds lashed the city with heavy downpour At least 70 of the rice crop was estimated to have been lost due to the cyclone 3 Near the storm s center wind gusts were estimated to have reached 275 km h 171 mph 4 By May 23 officials in Pakistan recovered 200 bodies 50 were found across islands of the mainland and 150 were in the Badin District 5 During a rescue attempt 11 Pakistani soldiers were washed away in a swift current None of the soldiers are believed to have survived the incident Throughout the country damage was estimated to have exceeded 6 million 6 By May 24 400 bodies had been recovered but at least 6 000 more were known to be missing and believed dead Many of these people are believed to have been swept out to sea 7 Following the storm s destructive landfall hundreds of soldiers from the Pakistan army were deployed to the region They assisted in search and rescue operations as well as relocating survivors to shelters According to the Associated Press the Government of Pakistan made no attempts to evacuate residents before the cyclone made landfall likely resulting in the large number of fatalities At least 1 million in relief funds was to be supplied by the government 6 Records Edit Close up view of the storm Upon reaching its peak intensity the storm became the most intense cyclone ever recorded in the Arabian Sea since records began It surpassed the record set just a year earlier by Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm ARB 02 which attained winds of 165 km h 105 mph 3 minute sustained and a minimum pressure of 958 mbar hPa 28 29 inHg Since then the storm has been surpassed as the strongest in the region In June 2007 Cyclone Gonu became the first Category 5 equivalent storm ever recorded in the area Additionally the JTWC estimated that another storm Cyclone Phet in 2010 attained higher sustained winds than ARB 01 in 1999 however the IMD does not support this as it is based on one minute mean IMD calculate windspeed based on three minute mean This Cyclone is the only Major Cyclone and Extremely Severe Cyclone to make Landfall in Pakistan 8 See also Edit Tropical cyclones portal1999 North Indian Ocean cyclone season 1998 Gujarat cyclone Cyclone TauktaeReferences Edit Cyclone hits Pakistan BBC News May 20 1999 Archived from the original on 6 June 2010 Retrieved 8 June 2010 Staff Writer May 21 1999 Cyclone hits Gujarat heads for Pakistan Indian Express Newspapers Retrieved June 8 2010 700 missing after Pakistan cyclone The Guardian London Associated Press May 22 1999 Retrieved June 8 2010 700 lost in Pakistan cyclone Tidal waves swamp villages Toronto Star Associated Press May 22 1999 Archived from the original on November 2 2012 Retrieved June 8 2010 200 dead in Pakistan cyclone Toronto Star Associated Press May 23 1999 Archived from the original on November 2 2012 Retrieved June 8 2010 a b Search begins for victims survivors of Pakistan cyclone The Victoria Advocate Associated Press May 23 1999 p 14 Retrieved June 8 2010 Smita P Nordwall May 24 1999 400 dead 6 000 missing after cyclone hits southern Pakistan USA Today Archived from the original on November 2 2012 Retrieved June 8 2010 1999 cyclone season PDF rsmcnewdelhi imd gov in Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1999 Pakistan cyclone amp oldid 1129950789, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
