Tag Archives: Tropical Cyclone 02B

Tropical Cyclone 02B Develops over Bay of Bengal

Tropical Cyclone 02B developed over the Bay of Bengal southwest of Port Blair on Saturday morning. At 5:00 a.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Cyclone 02B was located at latitude 9.9°N and longitude 90.9°E which put it about 165 miles (265 km) southwest of Port Blair, Andaman Islands. Tropical Cyclone 02B was moving toward the northwest at 9 m.p.h (15 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 995 mb.

The circulation around a low pressure system over the eastern Bay of Bengal strengthened on Saturday morning and the center was designated as Tropical Cyclone 02B. More thunderstorms formed near the center of Tropical Cyclone 02B. The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the southern side of the center of circulation. Other bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center. Storms near the center of circulation generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical cyclone. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 70 miles (110 km) from the center of circulation.

Tropical Cyclone 02B will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 36 hours. The tropical cyclone will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 31˚C. It will move under the southern part of an upper level ridge over the Bay of Bengal. The upper level ridge will produce easterly winds that will blow toward the top of the low pressure system. Those winds will cause some vertical wind shear, but the shear will not be large enough to prevent intensification. Tropical Cyclone 02B will intensify during the next 36 hours and it could strengthen to the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon.

Tropical Cyclone 02B will move around the southwestern side of a high pressure system over Southeast Asia. The high pressure system will steer the tropical cyclone toward the northwest during the next 36 hours. On its anticipated track Tropical Cyclone 02B will move slowly away from the Andaman Islands and the Nicobar Islands. The tropical cyclone will continue to drop locally heavy rain over the Nicobar Islands and the Andaman Islands until it moves farther northwest of those areas. Heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations.

Tropical Cyclone Forms over Bay of Bengal

A tropical cyclone formed over the Bay of Bengal on Sunday night. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday the center of a tropical cyclone was located at latitude 16.2°N and longitude 89.8°E which put it about 465 miles (750 km) south-southeast of Kolkata, India. The tropical cyclone was moving toward the northeast at 8 m.p.h. (13 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 993 mb.

A low pressure system over the Bay of Bengal strengthened on Sunday night and the system was designated as Tropical Cyclone 02B by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. The circulation around the tropical cyclone was still organizing. Many of the thunderstorms were occurring in bands in the outer portion of the circulation around the tropical cyclone. The inner end of a rainband began to wrap around the western side of the center of circulation. The circulation around the tropical cyclone was large. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 175 miles (280 km) from the center of circulation.

The tropical cyclone will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 48 hours. It will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 31°C. The tropical cyclone will move under the southern part of an upper level ridge over the Bay of Bengal. The ridge will produce easterly winds which will blow toward the top of the tropical cyclone. Those winds will cause some vertical wind shear, but the shear will not be enough to prevent intensification. The tropical cyclone will intensify during the next 24 hours. It could intensify more rapidly once an inner core with an eye and an eyewall form. The tropical cyclone could strengthen to the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon within 36 hours.

The tropical cyclone will move around the western side of a high pressure system over Southeast Asia. The high will steer the tropical cyclone toward the north-northwest during the next 48 hours. On its anticipated track the tropical cyclone could approach the coastline of Odisha and West Bengal in 48 hours. It will likely be the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon when it approaches the coast. The tropical cyclone is likely to bring damaging winds, and locally heavy rain. It will also likely cause a dangerous storm surge on parts of the coast around the northern Bay of Bengal.

Tropical Cyclone 02B Forms Over the Bay of Bengal

A surface circulation formed over the Bay of Bengal on Saturday and the system was designated Tropical Cyclone 02B.  At 8:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Cyclone 02B was located at latitude 14.2°N and longitude 88.9°E which put it about 640 miles (1030 km) south-southwest of Chittagong, Bangladesh.  The tropical cyclone was moving toward the north-northeast at 4 m.p.h. (6 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 998 mb.

A low level center of circulation consolidated over the Bay of Bengal on Saturday.  The distribution of thunderstorms was asymmetrical.  Most of the thunderstorms in the inner part of the circulation developed west of the center.  There were some thunderstorms in outer bands northeast of the center, but there were few thunderstorms closer to the core of the circulation in the eastern half of the tropical cyclone.  The thunderstorms west of the center were producing upper level divergence which was pumping away mass to the west of the tropical cyclone.

Tropical Cyclone 02B will be moving through an environment that will be favorable for intensification.  It will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 30°C.  An upper level ridge east of the tropical cyclone is generating southeasterly winds which are blowing toward the top of the circulation.  Those winds are creating moderate vertical wind shear and the shear may be the reason why the thunderstorms were developing west of the center.  The shear will be strong enough to slow intensification, but it will not prevent intensification.  Tropical Cyclone 02B will intensify during the next two days and it could become the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon.

A subtropical ridge located east of Tropical Cyclone 02B is steering it slowly toward the north-northeast.  A general north-northeasterly motion is expected to continue during the next several days.  On its anticipated track the center of Tropical Cyclone 02B could approach the coast of Bangladesh and northwestern Burma in about 48 hours.  Tropical Cyclone 02B could be the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon by that time.  It could bring gusty winds and locally heavy rain when it makes landfall.  Heavy rain could cause fresh water flooding of rivers.  In addition the winds on the eastern side of Tropical Cyclone 02B will push water in the Bay of Bengal toward the coast.  A serious storm surge could occur along the coast east and near where the center makes landfall.