Tropical Cyclone Hamoon Brings Wind and Rain to Bangladesh

Tropical Cyclone Hamoon brought wind and rain to Bangladesh on Tuesday. At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Tropical Cyclone Hamoon was located at latitude 21.1°N and longitude 91.5°E which put it about 110 miles (170 km) southwest of Chittagong, Bangladesh. Hamoon was moving toward the east-northeast at 9 m.p.h. (15 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 85 m.p.h. (135 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 105 m.p.h. (165 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 981 mb.

Bands in the eastern side of Tropical Cyclone Hamoon brought wind and rain to Bangladesh on Tuesday. An upper level trough over India was producing southwesterly winds that were blowing toward the top of Hamoon’s circulation. Those winds were causing strong vertical wind shear. The strong vertical wind shear was tilting the upper part of Tropical Cyclone Hamoon to the northeast of the lower part of Hamoon’s circulation. The upper part of Hamoon’s circulation was over southern Bangladesh on Tuesday. Rain was falling on southern Bangladesh.

Winds to hurricane/typhoon force extended out 30 miles (50 km) from the center of Tropical Cyclone Hamoon. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 70 miles (110 km) from the center of circulation. The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Hamoon was 12.7. The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 10.0 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 22.7. Tropical Cyclone Hamoon was similar in size and intensity to Hurricane Dolly when Dolly hit south Texas in 2008.

The upper level trough over India will steer Tropical Cyclone Hamoon toward the northeast during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, the center Tropical Cyclone Hamoon will cross the coast of Bangladesh near Chittagong in a few hours. Hamoon will continue to produce strong winds and locally heavy rain in southern and eastern Bangladesh. Heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations. Tropical Cyclone Hamoon could cause a storm surge of up to seven feet (two meters) along the coast of Bangladesh. Hamoon will also bring gusty winds and locally heavy rain to parts of eastern India.